Maurizio Sarri has told Eden Hazard to leave Chelsea “if he wants to go” ahead of the club’s match against Bournemouth on Wednesday.
The Belgium international has 10 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League this term and has been deployed in a ‘false nine’ position for much of the campaign.
Hazard has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid over the last year or so with speculation ramping up in recent months.
Chelsea could lose him for free in the summer of 2020 if they can’t convince him to sign a new deal and Sarri says Hazard is free to leave if he wants to.
“Eden is 28. If he wants to go, I think he has to go,” Sarri told reporters.
“Of course, I hope the opposite, I hope he wants to stay here. He has the potential to be the best player in Europe at the moment.”
Sarri added: “It’s my job to improve him and put him in a position to do his best.”