Eden Hazard to Real Madrid transfer stories have certainly died down of late, and it looks like Zinedine Zidane has known for some time that the Chelsea forward was unlikely to move.
According to Don Balon, the French tactician was in contact with Hazard shortly after he left his position as manager at the Bernabeu.
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The Spanish outlet claims Zidane contacted the Belgium international after the World Cup telling him his chances of moving to Madrid looked slim.
Supposedly, club president Florentino Perez remains unconvinced about Hazard as a big enough name, and Zidane told him he’d have to win the Ballon d’Or before making him change his mind, says the report.
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This seems a slightly strange claim, but Real chief Perez is known for his high standards, having signed many of the world’s biggest and best names in his time as president at the club.
Hazard is undoubtedly an elite talent, though he perhaps still remains a league below the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he’d essentially have to replace at Madrid despite playing a slightly different role.