Jose Mourinho: Eden Hazard has the 'talent and personality' to succeed at Real Madrid

Belgian forward, whose Chelsea contract expires next summer, has made it clear a move to the European champions is his 'dream'

Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko and team mates celebrate after winning the penalty shootout. Action Images via Reuters

Manchester City players react during the penalty shootout. Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea players react during the penalty shootout. Action Images via Reuters

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores from the penalty spot during the shootout to win the match. Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea's David Luiz misses from the penalty spot during the shootout. Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea's Eden Hazard scores from the penalty spot during the shootout. Action Images via Reuters

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero scores from the penalty spot during the shootout. Action Images via Reuters

Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea reacts as he refuses to be substituted. Getty Images

Aguero shoots under pressure from Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea. Getty Images

Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, talks to Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Vincent Kompany. Getty Images

Aguero in action against Chelsea's Jorginho. EPA

Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain comes on as a substitute to replace Willian. Reuters

Jorginho and team mates before the start of extra time. Reuters

Manchester City's Fernandinho is shown a yellow card by referee Jonathan Moss. Action Images via Reuters

Aguero heads towards goal. Getty Images

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in action against Chelsea's Ross Barkley. EPA

Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi in action. Action Images via Reuters

Hazard runs with the ball under pressure from Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City. Getty Images

Manchester City's Fernandinho with Hazard as David Luiz reacts. Reuters

Chelsea's Emerson Palmieri in action with Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. Action Images via Reuters

Aguero shoots during the Carabao Cup Final. Getty Images

Sterling battles for possession with Azpilicueta. Getty Images

Chelsea's Ross Barkley and Azpilicueta in action with Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi. Reuters

Fans inside the stadium before the match. Action Images via Reuters

Chelsea fans before the match. Action Images via Reuters

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho appeared to endorse a potential move to Real Madrid for Eden Hazard after saying the Belgian forward has both the "talent" and "personality" to succeed at the Spanish giants.

Hazard, 28, has made public comments about his "dream" of playing for Madrid, which began after helping Belgium to third place at the World Cup last summer in Russia.

With Hazard's contract set to expire in June 2020, it could be decision time for Chelsea and the player at the end of the season. Should Hazard refuse to commit his future to the Premier League club, they are likely to entertain bids in an attempt to earn a transfer fee instead of losing him on a free transfer the following year.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri said last month that Hazard was free to leave the  if he had his heart set on a move.

Now former manager Mourinho, who worked with Hazard for two-and-a-half seasons during his second spell in charge and who also spent three years at Madrid, believes the Belgian would thrive at the Bernabeu.

"Does he have the talent to play for Real Madrid? He does," Mourinho told sports streaming service DAZN Espana. "Does he have the personality to put on a 'super-heavy' shirt and play in front of the fans at the Bernabeu? Yes, he has the personality.

"Regarding Eden's ambitions ... be it playing for Chelsea his whole life or playing for a giant like Real Madrid, I can't say, because I haven't spoken to him for a long time."

Hazard was on the losing side of the League Cup final on Sunday when Chelsea fell to a penalty shootout defeat to defending champions Manchester City. The London club, sixth in the Premier League table and three points fourth-place Arsenal with a game in hand, resume their fight for the top-four on Wednesday when they host rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Mourinho, who has been working as a television pundit since being sacked as Manchester United manager in December, also said he wanted to return to football management before the start of next season.

"In this short phase of my life, which I hope is only until June, I'm more concerned about what others would do than what I would do," he said.