Hazard: If Real Madrid wants to buy me, 'they know what they have to do'

Eden Hazard wants to stay with Chelsea if the London club shows clear improvement from last season, but has simultaneously challenged Real Madrid to show its interest in him is serious.

The Belgian said in May that he was stalling extending his stay beyond 2020 to see how the Blues would act in the transfer market, something that's dependent on the undecided future of manager Antonio Conte. However, Hazard's nod to Los Blancos indicates that even smart summer business might not be enough to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

"Real Madrid could interest me, everyone knows that," Hazard told L'Equipe, with translation from ESPN's Liam Twomey. "But if tomorrow that club doesn't want me anymore, we won't talk about it again. If they want to buy me, they know what they have to do.

"Going there for going there's sake, no. There has to be a project. I still have a project with Chelsea. If I have a good World Cup, things will be easier."

Chelsea collected the FA Cup last season after beating Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley in May, but otherwise offered a measly defence of its Premier League title, was dumped from the Champions League round of 16 by Barcelona, and was eliminated from the League Cup semi-finals by Arsenal. The campaign was also marred by boss Conte's clear disenchantment with Chelsea's transfer dealings and general running of the club.

So, it's not a great surprise that Hazard wants to see more competitiveness from the Blues in the 2018-19 term.

"If I stay, it's for the team to be better than it was than in the season we have just gone through," he stated. "I don't want to stay for it to be worse. I have won everything in London other than the Champions League. If I'm in this position in my career, it's thanks to Chelsea.

"It would be too easy to say I want to leave because I've done everything here. That's why, above all else, I would like to know what will happen at the club next year. I am waiting to see if the coach stays or leaves."

Hazard isn't just waiting on Chelsea and batting his eyelids at Real Madrid. His primary focus is on captaining Belgium in the World Cup, where the Red Devils have been drawn alongside Panama, Tunisia, and England in Group G.