Matt Law's Chelsea briefing
Decision time for Eden Hazard
By Matt Law Football News Correspondent
Eden Hazard, the game master (Credit: Reuters)
Eden Hazard has so far treated his Chelsea future like a game and the
Belgian has played it pretty well.
But the game is now getting serious, with Real Madrid wanting to secure his signature before the summer, and Hazard may soon have to accept that he cannot continue to be everybody’s friend.
Hazard has done a brilliant job of keeping the Chelsea fans, and hierarchy on his side, while making it clear he wants to join Real.
It has been striking that a large banner with Hazard’s face on it continues to get passed around one end of Stamford Bridge, despite his refusal to commit himself to the club. He cannot expect such adulation at the Bernabeu.
Not many players would get away with effectively giving owner Roman Abramovich an ultimatum, but that is exactly what Hazard did before last season’s FA Cup final when he claimed he wanted to find out which type of players Chelsea would keep and sign before deciding on his future.
Abramovich and Chelsea did not even get angry when, a few months later, Hazard confirmed the time might be right to leave the club after Belgium’s World Cup journey had come to an end.
The club had no intention of selling Hazard last summer and, to the forward’s credit, he did not sulk or try to force his way out. Instead, he kept smiling and embarked on what may well prove to be his best personal campaign in a Chelsea shirt.
As star players go, Hazard is incredibly low maintenance. He did not use an agent to negotiate his last contract and likes to speak personally with director Marina Granovskaia, so that his thoughts cannot be misinterpreted.
Hazard has never scored 20 goals in a season at Stamford Bridge, but he is well on course to do so in what he hopes will be his farewell campaign. There have been times when it has looked like he is playing for himself, rather than the good of the team, but nobody can question his numbers.
The 28-year-old appears to have enjoyed keeping the media, the Chelsea fans and Abramovich on a piece of string as he has laughed his way through questions on his future, keeping all avenues open and never really committing to either outcome.
But Chelsea now know Hazard has no intention of signing an extension to his contract that expires in 2020 and Real are fully aware that he is desperate to move to Madrid.
Negotiations over his fee are in full swing and it may well come down to Hazard publicly stating his desire to give both clubs the final push to find an agreement.
That would be a tough decision for the player, but he cannot continue to straddle two horses. It is time to settle on one and with his choice already made, it will soon be time to make sure the Chelsea fans hear it from him.
