{"id":1088697,"date":"2019-05-12T20:05:10","date_gmt":"2019-05-12T19:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1088697"},"modified":"2021-09-14T16:52:46","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T15:52:46","slug":"sarri-chelsea-respect-hazard-transfer-decision","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/sarri-chelsea-respect-hazard-transfer-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Sarri urges Chelsea to “respect” Hazard’s transfer decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has outlined his desire for Eden Hazard to remain at the club but will ultimately respect the forward’s decision.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hazard, 28, has been consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid throughout the campaign and speculation has intensified as the season reaches a close.<\/p>\n

Could Hazard leave Chelsea? Five key things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Signed from\u00a0Lille in 2012, Hazard has amassed 350 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 108 goals and registering 78 assists.<\/li>\n
  2. With just a year remaining on his contract this summer speculation has been mounting about his future.<\/li>\n
  3. Real Madrid are set for a summer overhaul with recently-appointed\u00a0Zinedine Zidane keen to bolster his attacking ranks.<\/li>\n
  4. Last summer, Hazard labelled Real Madrid \u201cthe best club in the world\u201d<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  5. Sarri has now urged Chelsea to “respect” Hazard’s transfer decision amid increasing Real links.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With just over 12 months remaining on his present deal in west London, speculation has been rife regarding Hazard’s future.<\/p>\n

    The diminutive magician dropped a hint earlier in the season that he would choose a “white shirt”<\/a> over a blue one when posed a hypothetical question by a Belgian journalist whilst on international duty.<\/p>\n

    And that speculation has only increased as the season has progressed, but Chelsea remain desperate to retain his services with a two-window transfer ban looming.<\/p>\n

    Speaking after his side secured third-place in the Premier League, Sarri told\u00a0reporters<\/a> that he hopes Hazard remains at Stamford Bridge, but will “respect” any decision the Chelsea talisman makes.<\/p>\n

    He said:\u00a0“Eden [Hazard] was tired today so he was on the bench. We tried to win with him later on in the last 25 minutes. I think Eden has played here in Chelsea for seven seasons, trying in every match to do his best and now it’s time to respect his decision, but I hope he will remain with us.<\/p>\n

    “The season is good. We were in trouble two or three months ago but third place is a very good result. Now we have to go to Baku for the Europa League final and we have the chance for our season to be wonderful.”<\/p>\n