British tabloid The Sun claims the Chelsea star will earn a salary-structure-busting wage when he heads to the Bernabéu.
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has been offered an annual salary of just over 24 million euros net by Real Madrid, according to British tabloid The Sun.
The playmaker has made no secret of his desire to leave Stamford Bridge for the Bernabéu and Chelsea are reportedly ready to accept an offer of just over 100 million euros from Real Madrid. Chelsea had initially asked for 116 million, well above Real Madrid's original offer of 80 to 90, but the two clubs appear happy to settle half-way. Zidane has given his approval to Real Madrid boss Florentino Pérez to get the deal done.
Chelsea happy to sell Hazard to Real Madrid for the right price
Chelsea are all too aware, of course, that the Belgian star has only one year left to run on his existing deal with the Premier League outfit, meaning they have to sell now if they want to get something in return for the player who has been at the club for seven seasons since signing for Lille in 2012.
According to The Sun, Real Madrid will "throw everything at Hazard to quickly agree personal terms when the season ends". This would make the 28-year old by far the most highly paid player at the Bernabéu, above Gareth Bale who is said to be on around 15 million euros a year.
Hazard unlikely to earn 24 million euros a year
Sources close to the club however suggested Hazard's salary would be very unlikely to be at the level of 24 million euros a year (meaning a total cost with tax of close to 45 million euros for the club). Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest ever paid player in Real Madrid's history, was on 22 million euros when he left for Juventus, while club captain Sergio Ramos is on around 11 million, meaning Hazard would be earning more than twice the salary of one of the most respected and appreciated players at the club.
Real Madrid are hoping to move Gareth Bale on this summer, despite the Welshman telling the club he is keen to stay and see out his contract, which would free up cashflow to pay Hazard's wages, but the club are hoping to sign other big names, meaning it's extremely unlikely they would be able to devote that level of resources to one player.