Chelsea star Eden Hazard will not decide on his future until summer but admits it would be “hard” for the club to not qualify for the Champions League.
The Belgium international has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid and in February he told the media that he has “already made a decision” over his future, but now has appeared to refute such claims.
“I'm just focused on Chelsea,” Hazard told an interview with ESPN.
“One month to play, top four, try to win the Europa League. For the fans I think the most important thing is when they see me on the pitch they just think that my head is with Chelsea – so we'll see after.
“Two years in a row not playing Champions League is hard for the players but also for the club – Chelsea has to play in Champions League every year, but it's hard because we are not the only team that is trying to play Champions League.
“But that's why we are doing everything at the moment to try and stay in the top four.”
Marca had said all parties ‘were close to an agreement’ which would see the 28-year-old put pen to paper on a six-year deal at Madrid, while Cadena Cope have said he is searching for a new house in the Spanish capital.
The 28-year-old has never hidden his admiration for Zinedine Zidane and the Frenchman’s reappointment in Madrid’s hotseat could prove decisive in the approach.
Last summer, Los Blancos reportedly saw an approach knocked back as they were quoted at €200m for the player, but with Hazard’s contract expiring next year that value has now dropped significantly.
In February, The London Evening Standard claimed the Chelsea star, whose contract at Stamford Bridge expires in June 2020, is now tipped for a move to the Spanish capital this summer.
Madrid are likely to redouble their efforts in the coming weeks, in order to have the former Lille star in place ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
