Why the evidence suggests Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is leaning towards a Real Madrid move

Eden Hazard has revealed he has made a decision about his future, amid suggestions he is ready to quit Chelsea for Real Madrid.

He told French radio station RMC on Tuesday: “I know what I am going to do. I have made a decision”.

Here Press Association Sport looks at why the evidence suggests Hazard’s future appears to be in Spain.

Remind us: what is the decision?

Eden Hazard has today signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea…http://t.co/i6YGX9wNNY #HazardCFC pic.twitter.com/JN4DiAAofG

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 12, 2015

Hazard, now 28, joined Chelsea in June 2012 from Lille. The Belgium captain signed a contract extension in February 2015, which expires in June 2020, so will have 12 months to run come the end of the 2018-19 season. This next deal will likely be the biggest of Hazard’s career, when he is at his peak. Chelsea will want him to commit to the club by signing a new deal or will be forced to sell in the summer – the Blues will not want to risk losing him on a Bosman free transfer the following year. Hazard has 104 goals in 331 appearances for the Blues, who would likely demand a fee of £100million or more.

What Hazard has said points to his “dream”

Prior to May’s FA Cup final, Hazard challenged Chelsea to invest in the team. Then, after leading Belgium to third place at the World Cup, he said “it might be time to discover something different… you all know my preferred destination”. Hazard rowed back on that statement, somewhat, when returning to Chelsea, insisting he could see out his career at Stamford Bridge. After October’s 3-0 victory at Southampton, Hazard shared the thought process which was going through his mind. “Real Madrid is the best club in the world. It is my dream since I was a kid,” he said. “Sometimes in my head, I wake up in the morning and think I want to go. Sometimes I think I want to stay.”