HAZARD MULLS EXIT AMID REAL RUMOURS

ST PETERSBURG: Belgium forward Eden Hazard is considering leaving Chelsea before the start of next season, he said on Saturday, with Real Madrid thought to be his preferred destination. “After six wonderful years at Chelsea, it might be time to discover something different,” Hazard told reporters. “I can decide if I want to stay or go, but Chelsea will make the final decision. I will go on holiday and ask myself the right questions.” Hazard has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Courtois claims World Cup has boosted his value

LONDON: Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has suggested his World Cup performances for Belgium make him worthy of a more lucrative contract offer at Stamford Bridge. A reported £200,000 per-week offer remains unsigned but Courtois hinted the Blues might have to up their proposal. “I will be coming back, for sure, and I will see what they want (to do) and how they say it,” he told reporters. “Obviously with this World Cup, I think what was on the table obviously is different than what I can have, maybe.”

Ronaldo considered Napoli move, says De Laurentiis

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo was offered to Napoli and could have joined if not for the risk of bankrupting the club, according to chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis. “Ronaldo was also offered to Napoli,” De Laurentiis told La Repubblica. “(Jorge) Mendes, his agent, called me. We formulated our offer and would have paid Ronaldo with the percentage of the income guaranteed by his arrival. (But) the €350million that Juventus invested (including wages) is beyond our reach. We would have risked pushing the club towards bankruptcy.” Ronaldo, who scored four times at the World Cup in Russia, instead inked a four-year contract with Juventus.