Eden Hazard intends to remain at Real Madrid until his contract expires in 2024, according to a new report. The 32-year-old has long been linked with a sensational return to Chelsea after leaving the club in 2019 with his three-and-a-half campaigns in the Spanish capital being plagued with injuries.
With the €100million (£88.3m) transfer of Hazard from Chelsea not working out for Madrid, the club have been trying to cut ties with the Belgian, who retired from international football after the World Cup, since the summer of 2021.
Despite this upsetting Hazard, the Athletic have revealed that he wishes to stay at Madrid until his current deal expires next summer for a number of professional and personal reasons. Hazard is the highest-paid player at the club and seemingly does not want to sacrifice that until his tenure reaches a climax.
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On a more personal note, their report states his family are well-settled in Madrid and that is the forward’s primary concern. One of Hazard’s sons, Leo, even joined Real Madrid’s youth academy in the last month, as seen on the Madrid Football Federation (RFFM) website.
His stance on an exit from Madrid looked to have been revealed when the player himself said in December: "I have one more year and I have to show [what I can do] but it isn't easy. I'm not playing, I want to play more. I'm really sorry about what has happened. In January it's impossible [to leave], because I have family and I like the city."
Possible exit destinations appeared limited for Hazard but French publication L'Equipe have said that the MLS does appeal to the forward and that he could follow in the footsteps of Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale and many more in closing out their careers with a new project in the States.
However, he looks set to remain at Los Blancos and will likely depart in the summer of 2024 instead once his contract ends, with an extension highly unlikely.
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