EDEN HAZARD REJECTED a contract extension at Chelsea, according to his father, who says his son is holding out for a Real Madrid transfer.
The Belgian forward, 26, was back to his best last season as Chelsea romped to the Premier League title, after a sub-par season before in which he struggled for goals.
Heโs continued his impressive performances in 2017-18 and, although his contract runs until June 2020, rumours have continued to swirl regarding a potential transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Hazardโs father, Thierry, confirmed his son is playing a waiting game with his Chelsea contract in an effort to keep the door ajar to Zinedine Zidaneโs side.
โWhat I can reveal about Eden is that he refused a contract extension,โ he told Le Soir.
โThis was so that, if necessary, he could follow the interest of the Real, whom he could see himself playing for.
โBut, as of right now, there is no contact from Real Madrid. Eden is only one of the parties involved in his future.โ
Hazard has been candid about his interest in playing for the reigning European champions in recent months, saying in November that โeveryone knows the admiration I have for Real Madridโ.
The former Lille winger has scored eight times for Antonio Conteโs side this season, assisting a further eight times across all competitions.
Chelsea are third in the Premier League after 20 games, 16 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City but just one point behind second-placed Manchester United.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the yearโs best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Easonโs, or order it here today (โฌ10):
I wonder will it be as good as the Middleweight fight of Froch V Groves 2, which tool place in front of 80,000 people at Wembley. Not many people know that, Froch is very hesitant to mention it.
@Johnny: that wasnโt at middleweight
@Gareth: Super-Middleweight has the word Middleweight in it, so i stand by my comment haha to many branches of divisions these days all for the sake of 3 or 4 pounds.
@Johnny: these days lol
@Johnny: theres an 8 pound difference between middle and super middle
@Cathal Scully: In the lower weight classes thereโs 4/5 lb difference in some, my point about weight classes wasnโt directed specifically at Middleweight. Jesus, a man can put a smart comment up here without getting dogs abuse! Haha
Great fights, felt Hagler did enough to win against SRL, Hagler-Hearns was quality
Iโm going for Canelo on points, or possibly a late stoppage. I believe he has superior boxing skills, heโs the younger man and heโs the better all round fighter.