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Chelsea news: Eden Hazard reveals hope of Real Madrid transfer snub in new contract tease
CHELSEA star Eden Hazard has provided a hint that he could still sign a new contract with the club.
Andy Gray: Eden Hazard is the best player in the world
The Belgian international has been in talks with the Blues for over a year about a new deal but has yet to show any sign of putting pen-to-paper.
That is a major concern to Chelsea fans in his current form, having been instrumental to their strong start with six goals in seven appearances.
Hazard’s form continues on from a strong World Cup showing for Belgium, with Hazard having sparked rumours he could quit Stamford Bridge in the summer as he flirted with a move to Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old’s public comments over Los Blancos included calling them a “special” club who “make you dream” as well as hinting they were his “preferred destination” if he opted to leave Chelsea.
Hazard has shown no sign of discontent since the start of the season but his form is bound to attract the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona next summer.
Even more so if Hazard does not sign a new contract before then, with his current deal expiring in 2020 and leaving Chelsea in a weak position in negotiations.
But speaking after scoring the winner over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup in mid-week, Hazard responded to rumours that he had put pen-to-paper on a new deal at Chelsea by saying: “I haven’t signed a contract. Not yet. Not yet.”
And Hazard also spoke about how much he is enjoying playing in a more attack-minded team under Maurizio Sarri.
Sarri is a manager who likes to have the ball. That makes a big difference.
He added: “You see [what has changed] on the pitch. We have different players, players we didn’t have last season, players who like to have the ball.
“We have more possession than before. The attacking players benefit from that. We get more touches, more opportunities to create chances, to dribble more, more chances to shoot on target.
“Sarri is a manager who likes to have the ball. That makes a big difference.
“Besides that, he’s an Italian. Just like under [Antonio] Conte there’s a lot of tactics and we have to work hard in training.
“I don’t feel like saying that I didn’t have any freedom under my previous managers. Conte and [Jose] Mourinho also let me do what I wanted in the last third. That’s why I could excel under them too. Defensively I know what I have to do.”
Courtois: Hazard to Real Madrid would be wonderful
Hazard’s form for Chelsea has drawn comparisons to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and Juventus sharpshooter Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mate Ross Barkley thinks he is even currently outperforming the pair.
The midfielder hailed: “He [Hazard] is not a selfish player. He is happy getting two assists and the team winning. He is adding goals and he keeps improving.
“What did against Liverpool, honestly he's doing it every day in training so it's no surprise to us. What a goal!
“He's one of the best players in the world and he shows it. But he's been showing it for the last five or six years and he is establishing himself in the top three players in the world.
“At the minute, he is the best player in the world, I believe.”