Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has publicly declared that he is “very hopeful” of signing Eden Hazard this summer, ramping up speculation over the Chelsea’s talisman’s future ahead of the Europa League final.
Hazard’s representatives have been in negotiations with Madrid for a number of weeks with personal terms agreed, however, the Spanish giants are yet to meet Chelsea’s £100m+ evaluation of the Belgian.
Hazard only has one year remaining on his contract with the Blues, with the club reluctantly accepting that Wednesday’s Europa League final will likely be his last appearance.
Speaking about the 28-year-old on Onda Cero radio in Spain, Perez said: “I am very interested in him coming to Real Madrid and I am very hopeful that he will come this year. He is one of the best in the world.
Perez denied that any deal had been agreed with Chelsea, stressing that negotiations have been put on hold until after the Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal.
“How are we going to talk with a club that is about to play a final?” Perez continued. “We tried to get him last season but it was not possible.
“We have been trying to make Hazard a Real Madrid player for many years but we still have not achieved it.”
Perez also revealed that Madrid have received an offer from China for club captain Sergio Ramos, but that the move was “out of the question”.
“They [Ramos’ representatives] asked to see me and they said they had a good offer from a club in China but that because of the law in China they could not offer a transfer fee,” Perez added.
“Clearly it is out of the question that Real Madrid lets its captain leave for free. It would set a dangerous precedent.”
