Hazard Plays Games with Chelsea Hearts but Is Exit Moving Closer?

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When Cristiano Ronaldo spoke in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s 3 – 1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League final, he teased his future might lay elsewhere. The 33-year-old subsequently moved to Juventus.

That transfer, being completed this week, leaves a hole in Real Madrid which they need to fill. Speculation that Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, 27, is the man the Spaniards want received a boost after Belgium’s 2 – 0 win over England in the Russia 2018 Third/Fourth Place Final.

The Mail on Sunday reports Hazard as saying post-match:

“I have spent six years with Chelsea. I played a fantastic World Cup, so it’s maybe time to change something. Chelsea will make the final decision — if they want to let me go, you know my preferred destination. After six wonderful years at Chelsea, it might be time to discover something different.”

It was hardly the news Maurizio Sarri wanted to hear as he took over at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard’s future has been subject to speculation for several seasons but each time, the Belgian deflected attention and remained in west London. Now with the Portuguese legend departed from the Bernabeu, is the time right for Hazard to climb to the biggest stage of all?

He is nothing if not pragmatic about his future:

“It’s not my decision, so now I just want to go on holiday and see what happens.”

Sarri has a tough choice to make.