Alvaro Morata has predicted that Eden Hazard will not agitate for a move to Real Madrid.
Hazard has spoken of his daily quandary over whether to stick with Chelsea or fulfil his dream of playing for Real.
Two key Chelsea players have departed for the Spanish capital in the last two years: Diego Costa for Atletico Madrid in October 2017 and Thibaut Courtois for Real in July 2018.
Both players made clear their desire to leave Stamford Bridge, but former Real striker Morata does not anticipate Hazard forcing the issue.
He may not have to. Spanish station SER reported that Madrid are ready to make a January move for Hazard, whose contract expires at the end of next season.
Morata, who joined Chelsea from Real in July 2017, told Spanish broadcaster Cuatro, according to AS: “We’ve said that it’s not that he wants to leave Chelsea but if Madrid come in for him, that won’t be an obstacle.
“The thing is that he has a very good relationship with the club, he’s happy there and it’s not like other cases when a player wants to leave a club at any cost, but if it’s good for Chelsea they will keep that in mind.”
Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has described it as “important” that Hazard stays.
Barkley said: “He’s been at Chelsea for a long time now and he’s achieved so much.
“I can’t speak for Eden, he knows in his mind what he wants. But I’d love to play with him for many more years ahead.”
Barkley – speaking at a press conference at an England media day at St George’s Park – added: “He’s inspirational, a magnificent player.
“You can see how he’s started the season and the World Cup that he had, you don’t get many players like him. He’s capable of magic at any moment.
“Playing with world-class players is always going to improve me, and to play with them, to train with them on a day-to-day basis, you see the speed of thought, you see how much enjoyment they have in football and it has a big effect on yourself.”