Maurizio Sarri has insisted that Eden Hazard should be allowed to leave Chelsea if he no longer wants to play for the club amid continued speculation over the Belgian's future.
The 28-year-old has entered the final 18-months of his contract with the club and has made no secret of his desire to keep his options open with Real Madrid long-term suitors.
Hazard has been open about his desire to play for Real Madrid one day and if he decides against signing a new contract with Chelsea, he could be allowed to leave in the summer.
And while Sarri admitted that he hopes Hazard will stay where he is, he suggested that it will be up to him to decide whether it will be the right move to leave the club or not.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's game against Bournemouth, Sarri said: 'Eden is 28. If he wants to go, I think he has to go. Of course, I hope the opposite.
'I hope he wants to stay here with us and improve. He has the potential to be the best player in Europe a the moment.
'Sometimes he's happy with something less. It's my job to improve him and put him in a position to do his best. Sometimes I have to say something in the pressroom on that. It's normal. It's my job.
'But I was really very happy with the last performance [against Tottenham].'
Hazard has emerged as Chelsea's talisman since joining the club for £32m from Lille in 2012, helping the club win five major honours, including two Premier League titles.
He has seemingly been given a new lease of life under Sarri, enjoying one of his finest seasons to date, as shown by his return of ten goals and ten assists from 22 Premier League matches.
Real Madrid are expected to undergo a major revamp of their squad in the summer following a below-par campaign and have also been linked with Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.
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