Maurizio Sarri has cooled the speculation that Eden Hazard might join Real Madrid by making it clear that he wants to work with him. Hazard has been reportedly linked to Madrid with the UEFA Champions League winners looking for a possible Christiano Ronaldo replacement. Maurizio who replaced Antonio Conte has made it clear that he wants to work with the Belgian ahead of the 2018-19 season.
“Hazard is a very high-level player and I think one of the top two or three European players. I hope that I will manage to improve him. This is very difficult given he has reached a very high level. With Mertens it’s different. Dries had always been an external striker. Everybody thinks that by necessity he reached a very high level. But we are talking about two very high-level players. Dries started at the lower level. I hope I will improve Hazard too but this is difficult,” Sarri told reporters.
Sarri has already worked with the players at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground but those who were engaged in the 2018 World Cup are yet to report. The Italian made it clear he has no intention of shipping out players. “I would like to keep them in my squad. A telephone call without looking them in the eyes will not give me any certainty. I would like to meet these players face to face and talk to them and understand what will be best for everyone. Before that, I would also like a player to come on the pitch for four or five days with me.” the former Napoli manager concluded.