Eden Hazard has been branded irreplaceable by Glenn Hoddle as speculation continues to mount over his future at Chelsea.
The Belgium winger has long been the subject of intense interest from Real Madrid and his recent purple patch has done little to subside the rumours.
Maurizio Sarri turned to him on Thursday night as the Blues limped over the line in their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Slavia Prague and although he did not influence the game directly, Hoddle believes it would be disastrous for the club to lose a player of his caliber.
‘If [Lionel] Messi hangs up his boots how do Barcelona replace him? Hazard is not in that category but how do Chelsea replace him, they can’t,’ he told BT Sport.
‘I don’t see anyone out there who can do what Hazard does for Chelsea week in, week out. I can see him in a white shirt next season and really enjoying his football there.
‘Next week against Liverpool, if those two full backs play, he’s going to have to almost play as a defender and you don’t get that in Spain. Personally I hope he stays.
‘He is enjoying his football at Chelsea because if he wasn’t playing in a team that passes the ball and move around he would have left already and I think that’s what’s pulling on his heart strings a little bit.
‘He really has to think “do I want to go and play for Real Madrid, one of the best teams in the world”, he deserves to because he is a wonderful player. I think he will go, but is he joining them at the wrong time because Real Madrid have a lot of rebuilding to do.’
Hazard’s future is thought to be dependent on whether or not Chelsea qualify for Champions League football next season.