Mateo Kovacic remained coy when asked about Eden Hazard’s Chelsea future amid Real Madrid transfer interest.
Hazard, who has just one year left on his Blues deal, has been heavily linked with a summer move to the Spanish capital.
And Kovacic, on loan at Chelsea from Real Madrid, could be playing alongside the Belgian ace at the Bernabeu next season.
He told Sky Sports: “He’s a great guy and an amazing player.
“So for every club, he will be important.
“For Chelsea, he’s the most important player and in the end, it’s his decision.
“So I think everybody should respect his decision. It’s on him now.
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“He did amazing years at Chelsea, this season was also great. So let’s see what he will do.”
Hazard scored the decisive penalty in Chelsea’s Europa League semi-final shootout victory over Frankfurt on Thursday.
It means the Blues’ Europa League final against Arsenal on May 29 could be the 28-year-old’s final game for the club.
And Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri only wants ‘a Hazard with a very high level of motivation’ playing for him.
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He said: “If Hazard is thinking the history here is finished then in his mind it is finished.
“I can try to speak to him but it’s not easy because of course I want Hazard, but I want a Hazard with a very high level of motivation.
“You have to ask the club because I am not in control of the market and I am not in charge of the renewal of the contract so I am not able to answer.”