Ballack’s Real Hazard warning

MICHAEL BALLACK says Eden Hazard would be taking a step backwards if he quits Chelsea for Real Madrid.

Former Blues midfielder Ballack turned down the chance to join Real in 2002 when he left Bayer Leverkusen, choosing Bayern Munich instead.

And he believes Hazard should do likewise because he would be giving up top dog status at Stamford Bridge, which would take years to get back at Madrid.

Ballack said: “At Chelsea he’s the top player at the club and he lives in a fantastic city.

“I think he’s the key player at Chelsea for the next one or two years.

“I think he’s in a position where he’s had to fight for that for a long time.

“He has to decide if he wants to give that up for Real Madrid. He will not have the standing he has now at Chelsea. He will have to fight for that – and that takes a few years.” Blues boss Antonio Conte believes Real have started a campaign to unsettle Hazard (below) ahead of a mega-money bid this summer. But Ballack added: “I’m pretty sure if he moved to Real Madrid he would have to fight for that standing again and it would take time because he’s a bit of an introvert. “He’s not a player who talks a lot. At Real Madrid, if you see the players that they have, it would be a different situation for him.” Watch Chelsea v Manchester City live on BT Sport 1 tonight from 7.15pm. Info www. btsport.com