Zinedine Zidane has started Eden Hazard’s Chelsea swan song

Zinedine Zidane’s return to Real Madrid has changed the Eden Hazard calculus again. There is almost no way Chelsea keeps him now as the swan song starts.

All weekend, the rumor mill was pointing very solidly towards Jose Mourinho making a shock return to Real Madrid. But then Monday hit and all of a sudden Zinedine Zidane was returning to the Blancos less than a year after quitting.

The hire has a ton of knockdown effects for world football. Mauricio Pochettino has suddenly seen his two big job choices go up in smoke. Juventus now have less of a clear idea as to who follows Massimiliano Allegri. Paris Saint Germain and Chelsea both lost their earmarked “next big name manager” if it came to it.

But most importantly to Chelsea is what it means for Eden Hazard’s future. Zidane being away from Real Madrid was Chelsea’s best bet of keeping Hazard. But with Zidane back, there is virtually no chance Hazard stays in Blue. The Frenchman has started the Belgian’s swan song at the English club before he moves to the Spanish one.

Part of the reason Zidane left Real Madrid in the first place was how they were handling transfers. Zidane did not want a replacement for Keylor Navas, but a deputy. The club wanted and eventually bought Thibaut Courtois to bench Navas. There was also little guarantee to Zidane that there would be any other big name coming in. So after winning a historic three Champions Leagues in a row, he quit.

What that means for now is that he has been promised any and everything he wants. And high on Zidane’s list will be Hazard.

It was already pretty clear that if Real Madrid made a reasonable offer, Hazard would look to move. But that was before his idol returned to his dream club. Now the move is so good that Hazard may even push for it.

With the ban in place as of the moment this summer, many think the club will refuse to sell. But there is simply no way Chelsea holds on to Hazard and lets him go for free. If Real Madrid makes a reasonable offer, it will only be a matter of details.

Chelsea has somewhere between nine and fourteen matches remaining this season with one friendly guaranteed before the summer as well. They are all but guaranteed to be the last matches Hazard plays for Chelsea.

Is Hazard a Chelsea legend? That will be debated for years. But regardless of what title he is given, he was an enjoyable player to watch in Blue and had a spark rarely seen. If Real Madrid truly wants to come calling, then these last matches should be a celebration of Hazard as well as a time to prepare for life without the Belgian.

And then Hazard will get his dream move to his dream club with his dream manager. It will not be because he regrets his time at Chelsea but because a football career is short and should have no regrets. Hazard is blue regardless of what happens over the next few months.