Willian hopes Eden Hazard decides to stay on at Chelsea as Real Madrid line up a big-money move for the forward this summer.
Rumours of Hazard joining Madrid intensified this week after Zinedine Zidane rejoined the club as manager following Santago Solari’s sacking.
Hazard has made no secret of his desire to work under Zidane, a player he idolised as a youngster, and reports suggest the Frenchman’s return at the Bernabeu has strengthened his resolve to leave Chelsea.
Earlier this week, Emerson Palmieri admitted Chelsea’s players are ‘afraid’ Hazard could depart this summer and Willian concedes that it’s a real possibility.
However, the Brazilian insists Hazard remains fully committed to Chelsea and has urged his team-mate to strongly consider staying on at Stamford Bridge.
‘No doubt, he’s focused here,’ Willian said.
‘He’s never said something about Real Madrid or stuff like this. He just wants to continue to play for Chelsea.
‘First of all, I hope he stays with us. But in football you never know what can happen,’ Willian said.
‘Of course, Eden is a fantastic player, one of the best players in the world. He’s my friend, one of the best players I’ve played with in my whole career.
‘I just have to say I hope he stays with us. That’s it.’
Amid the speculation surrounding Hazard, Maurizio Sarri stressed that he is only interested in keeping players who ‘want to play for Chelsea’.
Asked how Hazard reacted to Zidane’s re-appointment, Sarri replied: ‘You have to ask Hazard, I think. I did not speak to Eden about Zidane,’
‘I am not worried, you know very well my opinion, I only want players that want to play for Chelsea.’
MORE: Arsenal held transfer talks with Rennes over Ismaila Sarr after Europa League defeat