Real Madrid have ended their interest in signing Chelsea forward Eden Hazard after being priced out of a move, according to Diario AS.
With the Blues demanding a world record fee of £200m and the Premier League transfer window closing August 9, Los Blancos have accepted that completing a deal for the Belgian would prove incredibly tricky.
The club’s new manager Julen Lopetegui is instead set to hand Isco Alarcón a more prominent role in his starting line-up and will look to mould his team around the 26-year-old.
Hazard interest ended
KAZAN, RUSSIA – JULY 06: Eden Hazard of Belgium runs with the ball under pressure from Miranda of Brazil during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Brazil and Belgium at Kazan Arena on July 6, 2018 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus earlier this month, Madrid are looking to sign their next Galactico with Eden Hazard being the player Florentino Perez had set his sights on.
However, a deal to bring the 27-year-old to the Spanish capital is looking increasingly unlikely given the huge financial outlay that would be required.
The reigning European champions are also confident that they are sufficiently equipped to compete next season without making a marquee signing such as Hazard.
Isco’s prominent role
MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 14: Nacho Fernandez and Isco of Real Madrid close down Neymar of PSG in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at Bernabeu on February 14, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
To fill the void left behind by Ronaldo’s departure, Lopetegui is set to place his trust in Isco – a player who he also built his team around when in charge of the Spanish national team.
Marco Asensio is another player Madrid are looking to build around, with the 22-year-old one of the club’s most promising young players.
Los Blancos believe that signing Hazard would stunt the growth of Asensio in the first-team and cautious over signing a player would block the Spaniard’s route into a regular place in the starting eleven.
With both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe set to remain at Paris Saint-Germain, Hazard appeared to be the only possible Galactico signing available, although Madrid are close to ending their intrest, handing Isco the opportunity to step up to the mark.
