The very same day William Gallas suggested Chelsea should let Eden Hazard leave the club and allow him to sign for Real Madrid, Florent Malouda had other plans for the 27-year-old.
Enjoying a relatively successful campaign on a personal level (the Belgium international has scored 15 goals and picked up 11 assists in 42 appearances so far this season), his side, however, are not, already out of the Champions League and fifth in the Premier League.
With Antonio Conte’s future up in the air and Zinedine Zidane a big fan of his qualities, this summer could be the perfect chance for Hazard to give La Liga a go, especially with just two years left on his deal.
Speaking to RTBF, Malouda, however, urged his former club to try their best to keep hold of the ex-Lille starlet, such is his importance to the club.
He said: “Chelsea can give him the means to match his ambitions. It’s always when things aren’t going well that speculation arises. He needs to assume his status of leader at Chelsea or elsewhere. However, it’s a personal decision.
“If he feels he’s done everything, it’s better for him to leave. These days, it’s great that players don’t leave when things become difficult. Eden should leave after a major trophy like the Champions League. Chelsea need a player of his class. He can play in all the clubs in the world. He loves the pressure and assumes it. He’s a prodigy, but Chelsea need him”.
Convincing the 27-year-old to sign on the dotted line has proven trickier than first anticipated, and it remains to be seen if he ever will.
If the Blues don’t qualify for the Champions League by closing the five point gap on Tottenham, currently in fourth, that could be the last straw for Hazard.
We’ll have to wait and see.
