Eden Hazard transfer rumours keep people entertained during international break
By George Perry
Old and busted: When life gives you a lemon, make lemonade. New hotness: When the schedule gives you an ill-timed international break, make Eden Hazard transfer rumours.
The final 10 games of the Premier League season. The opportunity to go 13 points clear. Seeing Big Sam on the opposite touchline. The possibility of a Loic Remy sighting. There are so many things to look forward to in Chelsea’s next match, this Saturday against Crystal Palace.
Add to that list: Something to talk about so people stop circulating vacuous Eden Hazard transfer rumours.
Like the guy who thinks everything is about sex but then complains that you keep showing him dirty pictures, every little sign in the footballing world is an excuse to link Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
Related Story: Chelsea must fight to keep Eden Hazard in west London
Alvaro Morata still unhappy with his playing time at Real? Package him up with some cash and swap him for Eden Hazard. Antonio Conte once said something complimentary about James? Like-for-like exchange for Eden Hazard. Real’s president hoping to score a big signing to retain his post? Let me tell you about this Belgian fellow. Hazard supposedly learning Spanish? Iron-clad proof of an impending transfer to La Liga, since he obviously has no Spanish-speaking teammates at Chelsea.
Real has little to offer Hazard that Chelsea can not match or exceed. Their system of play would not bring out the best in Eden Hazard, particularly when he learns that all roads at Real lead to Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Eden Hazard has now changed tune. I think he now wants to stay at Chelsea and finish his career there. He can meet his full potential as a Number 10 trequartista-type striker in the [Alessandro] Del Pierro mold. – Barrett Rouen, The Blue Lions"
For all of Hazard’s individual brilliance, he works best in a fluid and cohesive team tactical set-up. In 2014/15 and in this season, Hazard excels when he is one part of a high-functioning squad. Real Madrid lacks that unifying function. Much like a second- or third-year Jose Mourinho side, Real Madrid puts a bunch of the world’s best players on the pitch together and expects them to know what to do.
Antonio Conte is continually revamping and innovating his tactics to get the most out of his players. Conte’s 3-4-3 gives Hazard all the space he needs to run rampant at the opposing defence. The anticipated shift to a 3-5-2 will provide Hazard even more opportunities to create and put on skill displays.
The near-guarantee of Champions League qualification is Real’s only significant value proposition. And that comes at the expense of playing in a league as competitive and dynamic as the Premier League.
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Eden Hazard shows little interest in transferring to Real Madrid, and Real Madrid offers little unique incentive for him to do so. But hey, we have on unnamed, unreliable authority that he went out for tapas last weekend. I think we all know what that means….