Eden Hazard has his club, his family and perhaps soon his brother with him in London. Rumours of him leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid seem to consider everything except why he would want to stay.
The media would love Eden Hazard to leave Chelsea and move onto ventures new. Hazard is the jewel in Chelsea’s crown and the speculation over his future is almost as old as time itself, at least it feels like it. Of course, the press saves a special kind reportage for the Blues. Whilst ex-Chelsea players Mohamed Salah and (when fit) Kevin de Bruyne excel in their respective teams, that same clamour to see them move simply doesn’t exist.
The jealousy over the trophies that Roman Abramovich’s money supposedly bought is now extending to players themselves. After all, why should Chelsea have one of the best players in the world in their team?
Hazard, for his part, has never been anything but respectful as far as Chelsea and the fans are concerned regarding his possible contract extension. He still has plenty of time for negotiations given his contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2020.
There’s no reason to suggest that a move to the currently unstable Real Madrid is going to deliver him anything better than what he has in London. With the obvious exception of sunshine, Hazard would be as well staying where he is rather than upping sticks and moving on. Let’s not also forget his kids live here, too – bonus.
Hazard currently captains the Belgium international team. Roberto Martinez, his manager there, also thinks he would better off staying in London.
"Eden Hazard will never let you down, he honestly cares about the people around him. I don’t know if a new challenge would be good for him. He knows how much they love him at Chelsea. And there’s chemistry between Sarri and him. Eden enjoys himself at Chelsea. He has reached an exceptional level at that club. Then it’s uncertain if a new project would be good for him. I’m convinced that he can reinvent himself at Chelsea. Look at him now – even as a ‘9’. – Metro"
Another factor that may be preventing Hazard from wanting to put pen to paper either in London or Madrid could be his desire to play with his little brother, Thorgan, at club level. Chelsea sold the junior Hazard to Borussia Monchengladbach in 2015 for £7.2 million. His transfer value increased over his three years in Germany to £34.2 million.
His contract with the Bundesliga outfit also ends in 2020, but Chelsea sensibly inserted a buy-back clause when he made the switch. Although Thorgan never made an appearance for Chelsea’s senior team, now 25, he very much fits their games-played criteria, making 166 appearances in three and a half seasons. In those games, he’s scored 45 goals and made 39 assists.
Senior Hazard has said he wants to go onto be a Chelsea legend like John Terry and Frank Lampard. If he shuns the bright lights of the Spanish capital there’s every chance he will. If he can do that whilst transferring some of that legacy to his little brother, then all the better. His two goals against Watford saw him enter Chelsea’s centurion club.
If Maurizio Sarri can indeed re-invent Hazard as Martinez suggests, there’s a chance Hazard could reach Lampard’s total goal tally.
All that’s for the future, though. Ultimately, we don’t know whether Eden Hazard will stay or go. We do know he’s very much a part of Chelsea’s past and present.
The smart money is probably still on him going but it’s something he must closely consider, and that’s probably what he’s doing. It suits the media narrative to put him in Madrid, but as Chelsea fans, we know his heart – and kids – are in London.