Eden Hazard has revealed he still wants to join Real Madrid but is also open to discussing a new Chelsea contract.
Madrid were priced out of a move for Hazard in the summer after identifying the Belgium international as a potential successor for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hazard wanted to secure a dream transfer to Madrid but refused to force through a move away from Stamford Bridge.
The 27-year-old has developed into one of Chelsea’s best ever players during his six years at the club.
Chelsea are desperate to secure Hazard’s long-term future but haven’t tabled an improved deal since their offer in December.
Hazard’s existing deal is due to expire at the end of next season and, while he still wants to play for Madrid, he doesn’t want to force through a move like former team-mate Thibaut Courtois.
“I don’t want that,” The Guardian quote Hazard as saying after Sunday’s 3-0 win over Southampton. “I want what’s good for me, but I want what’s good for the club because the club has given me everything.
“I don’t want to say: ‘Yes, I am signing a new contract’ and then in the end I don’t end up signing. So I will see.
“Sometimes in my head, I wake up in the morning and think I want to go. Sometimes I think I want to stay. It’s a hard decision. It is my future. I am 27 and I will turn 28 in January.
“I am really in the game, I am playing good football at the moment. Real Madrid is the best club in the world. I don’t want to lie today. It is my dream since I was a kid. I was dreaming about this club.
“We will see. I don't want to talk about this every day. I don’t have time but we will talk about my future soon. I think so. It is also when you have a dream and you want to make it happen.
“It is like I have said a lot of times: if I leave I will be happy; I know if I stay I will be happy. It is not like if I go I am happy and if I stay that I am unhappy.”
Hazard has arguably been the best player in the world since the start of the 2018 World Cup. The Belgian has scored or assisted 18 goals in his last 18 appearances for club and country.
Hazard is the highest WhoScored rated player in the Premier League this season (8.15) and has won the WhoScored Man of the Match award five times in eight appearances.
