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Chelsea told Eden Hazard 'wants to play for Real Madrid'
LUIS FIGO claims Eden Hazard “wants" to leave Chelsea so he can join the Portuguese's former club Real Madrid.
Chelsea chairman: We'll do what we have to do to keep Hazard
Hazard has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu and a summer switch is reported to have fallen through.
Express Sport understands the Blues are now keen to tie him down to a new contract and are preparing to make him the highest-paid player in Premier League history.
And the Belgian, 27, has even suggested he would be happy to finish his career at Stamford Bridge.
However, Figo has urged his old side to make the deal happen and insists Hazard is still keen to make it happen himself.
“Real Madrid must sign Eden Hazard without any doubt,” the Real legend said.
“He is an excellent player, one of the best there is at the moment and I think he wants to play for Real.
"In addition, he is one of the few players who is not linked with big teams in the long term"
One thing that could make any deal difficult is the current managerial situation at the La Liga giants.
Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after a terrible start to the season.
His side are languishing in seventh in La Liga and defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday could see the Spaniard sacked.
Hazard’s former Blues boss Antonio Conte is favourite to take over if Lopetegui leaves and it is said an agreement is already in place for the Italian to come in.
And reports claim Conte does not want Hazard as the pair endured a difficult working relationship at Stamford Bridge.
They won the Premier League together in Conte’s first season in charge of Chelsea in 2016-17, with Hazard scoring 16 league goals to help the cause.
Despite wining the FA Cup in the following campaign, they struggled in the league and missed out on the Champions League places as Hazard struggled for form.
Conte was eventually sacked and replaced by Maurizio Sarri and Hazard has thrived under the guidance of his new boss.