Chelsea transfer news: Eden Hazard urged to join Real Madrid by Belgium manager Roberto Martinez

Hazard suggested after the World Cup that it might be time to leave the Blues

Belgium football manager Roberto Martinez has urged his captain Eden Hazard to leave Chelsea this summer amid interest from Real Madrid.

Hazard was named runner-up to Luka Modric for the Golden Ball at the World Cup 2018 after leading Belgium to a third-place finish in Russia.

And he could soon be a teammate of Modric’s after Hazard suggested could leave the Blues this summer after six years at the club.

“After six wonderful years at Chelsea it might be time to discover something different. Certainly after this World Cup,” he said.

“I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will make the final decision – if they want me to go. You know my preferred destination.”

And now Martinez has weighed in on Hazard’s future, telling Spanish radio that it could finally be time for the 27-year-old to leave west London.

“Players need new challenges and new projects,” Martinez told Cadena Ser. “Perhaps it's a good time for [Chelsea] and for Hazard [to split]. I would be very surprised if Chelsea didn't have big offers for him right now.”

Real Madrid are weighing up their options for a new attacker after allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the club in a shock £88m move to Juventus last week.