When Zinedine Zidane was a club ambassador for Real Madrid back in 2010 he was tracking the 19-year-old Eden Hazard, who at the time was a winger for the French club Lille. That interest from five years ago still hasn't waned.
"There are players I keep an eye on and who I like a lot, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, of course," Zidane, Real Madrid Castilla's manager, told FIFA.com. "They're fantastic players, but I like Eden Hazard a lot too. I enjoy everything he does on the pitch.
"I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he's improving every year. He can still get better too, and I think he's a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table."
Hazard is now a star midfielder with Chelsea. The club's manager, Jose Mourinho, was boss of Real Madrid back when Zidane was the club's ambassador. Chelsea acquired Hazard just months before they hired Mourinho back in 2013 and the two have been integral to the club's success, which is on track to earn its first Premier League championship since the 2009-2010 season.
Zidane is currently the boss of Real Madrid's B-team, but could succeed Carlo Ancelotti on the La Liga club because "doubts over his future have arisen" after Madrid were crushed 4-0 by Atletico Madrid back in February, according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPNFC. The club has recovered since, but Ancelotti could lose his job if Real fail to capture the La Liga or Champions League title. Real sit two points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
If Barcelona tops the league and Ancelotti is succeeded by Zidane, could Real Madrid be looking to make a run at Hazard when the summer transfer window opens on July 1?
"Zidane's comments could be seen as the start of a campaign to unsettle Hazard and tempt the 24-year-old playmaker away from Stamford Bridge this summer," writes Darren Lewis of the Mirror.
"The Spaniards have lured Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Ronaldo away from the Premier League in recent years."
Real's midfield has been in flux as of late, as seen in their 1-0 victory over Atletico earlier today. The Spanish club could still look to target Hazard with or without Zidane as manager because they are one of the few that would be able to afford him.
The next few weeks will be more telling in terms of what Real Madrid will decide to do.
