Former top flight star Garth Crooks believes Eden Hazard is poised to leave Chelsea irrespective of what they achieve between now and the end of the season.
Maurizio Sarri’s men rode their luck and salvaged a point away from home against fellow top four rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League.
The Blues were completely outplayed during the first half and conceded through a goal from Juan Mata, before David De Gea’s wretched luck between the sticks handed them an equaliser before the interval.
Despite clawing their way back into the game through Marcos Alonso, who scored after De Gea spilled an effort from Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea failed to kick-on in the second half.
The west Londoners were yet again over-reliant on Hazard and their talismanic forward was left with too much to do on his own as his team-mates flattered to deceive as a unit.
And in the wake of their lucky escape at Old Trafford, Crooks believes that Hazard’s reaction after the game suggests that he is off to Real Madrid in the summer.
The former Spurs star insisted that Real Madrid beckons for Hazard irrespective of what Chelsea achieve this term and admitted winning the Europa League and finishing fourth would be the perfect parting gift for the player.
“The wink by Hazard in his post-match interview said it all. He is off”, Crooks wrote in his column for the BBC.
“A point away at Manchester United with another sparkling performance by the Belgium international suggests that regardless of what Chelsea do this season, Real Madrid beckons for Hazard.
“He was a class apart against United and seems to be relishing his last days with Chelsea.
“The Europa League final and a fourth place finish for the Blues will mean Hazard can leave Stamford Bridge with a clean conscience.”
Hazard, who has just a single year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, has netted 19 goals and registered 13 assists across all competitions this term.
