Eden Hazard, Chelsea must be ready to handle an offer from Real Madrid
By George Perry
Alvaro Morata’s dissatisfaction at Real Madrid is stirring up rumours that Real will bundle Morata and cash into a bid for Eden Hazard. Chelsea and Hazard must be prepared to deal with that possibility.
Alvaro Morata is Real Madrid’s second-leading scorer with seven goals. He has accomplished that despite playing less than half as many minutes as their most prolific goal-scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo. The two differ by a matter of seconds in their minutes per goal ratio. Yet Morata is 17th when it comes to minutes played, behind Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Isco among forwards.
Morata’s desire for more playing time – in particular a starting XI spot – has accelerated transfer rumours that began over the summer. As Real Madrid consider a shake-up in their roster and contemplate life post-Ronaldo, Eden Hazard is high on the list of possible transfer targets.
Tribal Football reignited these rumours earlier in the week. They report that Real would offer Chelsea Alvaro Morata and an undetermined amount of money for Eden Hazard.
"Eden Hazard is a natural progression back to balanced football for Real Madrid. For so long Real Madrid has played only for Cristiano Ronaldo, and luckily he’s so good that means they have won matches. Eden Hazard is more of a team football classicist. – Barrett Rouen, The Blue Lions"
Even with Morata in the package, Real Madrid surely knows they will need to offer Chelsea a club record transfer fee for Hazard. Any amount they offer is sure to make Roman Abramovich’s and Michael Emenalo’s eyes light up. But Chelsea must be prepared to stand firm in their valuation of Hazard.
“Chelsea need to slap a price tag on Eden Hazard. £85 million and he can go,” Rouen said. Chelsea have the financial resources to match whatever wages Real Madrid would offer him. The club does not need his transfer fee to pad their accounts. Nor would Real Madrid overwhelm them at the negotiating table over Hazard’s contract.
For his part, Eden Hazard would need to consider the difference between playing at Chelsea and playing at Real Madrid. Real Madrid puts players under a microscope unlike any in the Premier League. For a player already prone to inconsistency and struggling under negative pressures, he could find Real Madrid toxic during what should be his prime years.
"If he doesn’t find consistency, they will eat him alive at Real Madrid…I don’t want to see Eden Hazard go to Real Madrid, have a couple of bad games and all of a sudden he’s not playing anymore. Because then he’s competing with James Rodriguez, Isco and anyone else."
Eden Hazard is a potential future captain at Chelsea. If he sees out his career at Stamford Bridge, he will take a place alongside Peter Osgood and Frank Lampard as the all-time greats. He is just off of Frank Lampard’s pace for goals scored over their respective first five seasons with Chelsea.
Chelsea and Real Madrid can offer Eden Hazard similar wages and similar moments of glory. With the prospect of money and titles nearly equal, the decision may come down to the intangibles.
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Hazard will have to decide where he can be his best possible self, and create the greatest career and legacy. If he decides that is not at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea must demand proper compensation for what could have been.