Real Madrid president dreams of finally sealing the Eden Hazard deal, at long last

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sat down for a lengthy and seemingly quite honest and remarkably open interview with Spanish radio on Monday, providing, among a myriad of other topics, an update on the Eden Hazard situation.

“We have been trying to make Hazard a Real Madrid player for several years. We are working on a project to make people dream again, where we recover our hunger and ambition. I have already lived through this stage before.

“I have a dream that Hazard will arrive this year. Let’s make a good team this year. I have a lot of interest in Hazard coming to Madrid. He’s one of the great footballers. Last year we wanted him, but this year he only has one year left on his contract and it is easier.”

-Florentino Perez; source: Onda Cero via Managing Madrid

So that’s pretty clear. While Perez refused to be drawn on speculation about any other player, be that Mbappé or Neymar or Jović or even Bale or Sergio Ramos, he left no room for guesswork on Hazard. After “several” years of pursuit, he thinks he might finally get it done.

If we’re looking for any last glimmers of hope, Perez does reveal that they’ve gotten this far, to this stage, before without success. But thanks to Eden Hazard’s contract situation, those Hazard dreams are now “easier”.

Chelsea of course won’t make it too easy. The price is set at £130m. Time for Florentino to pay up, or shut up.