Marcos Alonso responds to Eden Hazard transfer claim

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has indicated that Eden Hazard was never close to joining Real Madrid despite the constant speculation over his future during the summer.

At the backend of the World Cup, the Belgium international suggested that he may pursue a fresh challenge away from Stamford Bridge and this intensified the gossip over his future heading into the month of August.

However, the European champions never really made an attempt to pursue the Blues forward and Alonso has now indicated that the Belgian is very happy at the west London outfit.

"I did not see Hazard in Madrid (this summer),” Alonso told AS. "He’s very happy at Chelsea. I do not know if there was interest or not but Hazard and his family are very well there (at Chelsea)."

Hazard was influential for Belgium at the summer World Cup where they secured the bronze medal and he has since impressed in the Premier League with two goals and two assists in the first four games of the season.