Former Chelsea and Real Madrid footballer Michael Essien insists that Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard remains at Chelsea despite interest from Real Madrid.
Eden Hazard seems likely to leave Chelsea for Real Madrid as “every player would love to play for them”, but the former Ghana player hopes the Belgian international stay put.
The Chelsea and Belgium playmaker have been heavily linked with a move to the Spanish capital since the previous summer, and has made no secret of his desire to feature for the Los Blancos side at the previous stage of his football career.
Essien who represented the Blues and Real Madrid during his playing days, admits the lure of one of the best football sides in the world might be too much for the Chelsea footballer.
He told Express Sport: “Hazard is one of the best players in the world.
“The interest of Real Madrid, I only hear from people in the media. But I mean when Real Madrid come calling… every player would love to play for them.
“He’s happy at Chelsea though and hopefully we can keep him.”
Hazard is not the only player in west London to be generating exit talk ahead of another transfer window.
The likes of Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses and Andreas Christensen have also kept the media busy with speculation of a possible departure in January reported.
The latter is being linked with a possible move to Barcelona, with Essien conceding that those not seeing regular game time for Chelsea will be weighing up their options.
“Chelsea isn’t an easy place to come and the competition is very fierce.
“At the end of the day, all the players work but it’s the manager who will pick who he wants to play.
“When you’re not playing you get frustrated and you want to look elsewhere.
“It’s up to them really but they have to keep working and then everyone gets their chance.”
Chelsea have two more fixtures to take in before the winter window opens.
They are set to face Watford on Boxing Day, before making another short trip out on the road to take in a derby date with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Maurizio Sarri is looking for his side to offer a positive response in those games to recent setbacks which have left the Blues fourth in the Premier League table and looking over their shoulder.