Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said he must “respect Eden Hazard’s decision” if the forward wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, but admits it will be a disaster.
Reports have linked the Belgian with a move to Real Madrid who said to be willing to secure a deal in the region of £100m for his services.
Hazard later scored twice in Premier League game on Monday night at Stanford Bridge, in a 2-0 win over West Ham, beaten five West Ham players to score a delightful solo goal.
Sarri who’s under pressure at the bridge stated after the game that it’s now difficult to keep their star player and admit £100m is a cheap price for the Belgian.
“If Eden wants another experience it’s very difficult to keep him,”
“Eden played a wonderful match. When he is able to play like this we are lucky because it is easy to win.
“£100m is too cheap in this market – we have seen in the last windows every price.
“The club agrees with me [about wanting to keep Hazard].
“We are trying to improve. We are trying to become one of the best teams in England and, as a consequence, in Europe – but I think I have to respect his decision.”
Real manager Zinedine Zidane said last week he has “always appreciated” Hazard, but any deal could be complicated by Chelsea current transfer ban because they cannot register new players until January 2020 for breaking rules over the signing of foreign under-18 players.
Their appeal against the decision will be heard by Fifa on 11 April, but Sarri is hoping that reports of Hazard agreeing on a move to Spanish capital aren’t true.
“I hope that it is not true. Every coach wants to keep a player like him.
“It’s a disaster when a player like Eden decides to change team. It’s very difficult to find another player at the same level because in the world there are only two or three players at the same level.”
“We have to try something different [if he leaves], not find another Hazard. At this moment he is unique.”
Hazard has now scored 19 goals this term – his joint-best tally in a season for Chelsea, He has been directly involved in 11 goals in his past 10 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge (six goals, five assists);
He has been directly involved in more league goals than any other player this season (16 goals, 12 assists).
