Eden Hazard’s transfer to Real Madrid is OFF if Antonio Conte gets appointed manager at the Bernabeu
The pair had a difficult relationship when Conte was manager at Stamford Bridge
ANTONIO CONTE could be set for a swift return to management with Real Madrid - but Los Blancos would pay a big price in their pursuit of Eden Hazard is he is appointed.
Madrid have sounded out the ex-Chelsea boss to replace under-fire Julen Lopetegui, should they dispense of his services after the club’s worst-ever start to a league season.
Lopetegui is clinging on to his job ahead of Real's Champions League showdown with Czech side Viktoria Plzen, with a huge upturn in results needed if he is to avoid the sack.
Lopetegui has vowed to fight on though and recently said: “Results haven’t been great but we are going to turn this around.
“What I’ve learned about this club is to fight, that is the DNA of this club.
"That’s what we’re going to do, fight, both the players and the coaching staff.”
Conte, who won the Premier League during an up-and-down two-year spell in West London, would require a long-term contract though – something Real are unsure on giving at this time.
Madrid remain keen on Belgian ace Hazard, who said he would be ‘very happy’ if he moved to Spain, but the potential of that happening would be very low if Conte was handed the reins there.
The pair endured a difficult relationship during their time together at Stamford Bridge, with Conte struggling to get the best out of the 27-year-old during his second season at the club.
Ultimately Conte paid the price for the strained relationship with Chelsea firing him from his job at the end of last season.
Another complication of hiring Conte is that his severance package could be affected should he become Real boss, after he left the Blues last summer with one year left on his £9m-a-year deal.