Eden Hazard Finally Secures Real Madrid Move

CHISANGA MALATA

Eden Hazard has finally secured his long-awaited move from Chelsea to Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants announced the signing of Eden Hazard from Chelsea on Friday evening.

It’s understood Los Blancos have splashed out £88million to acquire the 28-year-old’s signature, though that fee will rise to £130million due to add-ons.

Hazard has penned a five-year deal with Zinedine Zidane’s side, who ended the 2018-19 La Liga season in third place. It’s understood his contract with the Spaniards will see him pocket a cool £400,000 a week.

Shortly after Real announced their blockbuster move for the Belgium international, Chelsea confirmed his departure on their official website.

“Chelsea Football Club and Real Madrid have reached an agreement for the transfer of Eden Hazard to the Spanish Club,” an excerpt of a club statement read.

“The move is subject to the 28-year-old completing a medical and signing his contract with Real.”

Hazard’s dream move to the Bernabeu will be completed next Thursday, as long as his medical goes off without a hitch.

Hazard has been angling for a move to the Spanish capital for several years and publicly flirted with a transfer to the Bernabeu last summer. Chelsea, however, persuaded their talismanic midfielder to remain at the club for one more season, which paid dividends as he guided them to Europa League glory.

Hazard joined Chelsea in the summer of 2012 from Ligue 1 side Lille for a fee of £32m. He leaves the west London club ninth in their all-time goal scoring charts after finding the back of the net 110 times and with two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues, one FA Cup and one League Cup trophy to his name.

Chelsea are bitterly disappointed to have let the diminutive midfielder leave the club, with club director Marina Granovskaia saying: “Although it is with sadness we say goodbye to Eden and we made it absolutely clear to him the club wished him to stay, we respect the decision he has made to take on a new challenge in a different country and follow his childhood dream of playing for Real Madrid.

“The memories he leaves us with will not fade. He provided all who watched Chelsea play with great entertainment and many match-winning contributions, and for that we thank Eden enormously.

“He has been a model professional throughout his time at the club, a wonderful individual to have around and a joy to work with.

“We look forward to welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge in the future.”

Hazard’s eagerness to join Real has been known for several years and was repeatedly talked up by his father and two brothers.

Zidane himself made no secret of his desire to sign the former Lille man, hailing the Belgian on more than one occasion.

Hazard’s arrival in Madrid will greatly boost the firepower at Zidane’s disposal. And his Belgium team-mate Yannick Carrasco believes he’ll be a huge success in Spain.

“He can play in any competition in the world,” he said. “He is one of the best in the world. It will be easy for him to be successful if he goes to Spain because of the quality he has.”