Transfer deadline: Real Madrid coach, Lopetegui speaks on last-minute move for Hazard

Real Madrid manager, Julen Lopetegui has finally ruled out a last-minute swoop for Chelsea ace, Eden Hazard.

Hazard has been strongly linked with a move to join the La Liga giants for the last three years.

Talk of the Belgium international swapping the Blues for Los Blancos intensified in July when forward, Cristiano Ronaldo left the Santiago Bernabeu to joined Juventus for £105million.

Lopetegui, however, said the Champions League holders won’t be making a deadline-day move for the 26-year-old.

Speaking to reporters about making a move for Hazard on transfer deadline day (Friday), Express quoted Lopetegui as saying: “No, now with Mariano (Diaz), the Real squad is closed.

“Just (Borja) Mayoral could leave on loan. He needs to leave to fight for minutes. We respect him.

Once Mariano is in the squad, he feels he’s going to have less minutes.”

However, Hazard’s father, Thierry, expected his son to join Real at some point in his career but can’t foresee a move to the Bernabeu materialising any time soon.

“I can’t say why it did not go through. Not because I don’t want to, because I don’t know,” Thierry told Hiet Nieuwsblad.

“Maybe they have a policy where they want to give the youth a chance.

“Eden will have one more year on his contract next summer, but he may never end up in Madrid.”