Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane says Eden Hazard is his 'third favourite player'

Zidane, who is the coach of Real Madrid’s reserves, says the 24-year-old is wonderful to watch and believes he is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Real Madrid have been repeatedly linked with Hazard and, given Chelsea’s miserable season, his praise of the Belgian may well be seen as telling.

"After Ronaldo and Messi, Hazard is my favourite player. It is spectacular to watch him play," Zidane said.

"If I see him playing for Real Madrid? I can only say I love the player.

"I have no doubt he will soon recover his form."

Hazard joined Chelsea for £32 million in 2012 and enjoyed a memorable season for Chelsea as they clinched the Premier League title in the last campaign before enduring his ongoing slump.

Hazard is indeed a wonderful player to watch and his skill and technique make him stand out very often in the Premier League. Zidane may be purely expressing his feelings about Hazard as a player, but it is likely going to be regarded as a strategic move with Real Madrid being repeatedly linked with the out-of-form Chelsea player.