Chelsea were exploring a club legend's return before Abramovich sanctions

There was a possibility of Eden Hazard making a blockbuster return to Chelsea from Real Madrid, before the sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich by the UK government complicated matters.

Hazard moved to Madrid from west London in the summer of 2019, for a fee which could rise to as much as £135m, but it has not gone how he or the club would have hoped.

The Belgian has made just 65 appearances since then, scoring only six goals after struggling for fitness and form since leaving the Premier League.

There has been no sign of improvement under Carlo Ancelotti this year, with the 31-year-old making just seven La Liga starts so far this campaign and failing to get on the scoresheet.

Goal report that Hazard now considers himself to be fully fit and is confused as to why he is being left out of the team, not starting in the league since 23 January.

The report also states that a return to Chelsea was ‘ready to be explored’ with Hazard possibly returning to the club at which he shone for seven seasons, scoring 110 goals in 352 games.

However, Chelsea are in uncertain times, with the sanctions placed on owner Roman Abramovich meaning they cannot make any transfers, offer new contracts, sell tickets or any merchandise.

The situation is expected to change in the near future, with a string of parties trying to buy the club from Abramovich, but clearly there is going to be great change at Stamford Bridge and any potential emotional returns of club legends have been put on the backburner.

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