Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso opens up on Real Madrid rumours

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso says he never had any intention of leaving Stamford Bridge this summer despite interest from Real Madrid.

The Spaniard emerged as a shock target for Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui late in the summer after the departure of Theo Hernandez to Real Sociedad.

Alonso began his career with Madrid as a youngster before moving to Bolton Wanderers, Fiorentina and eventually Chelsea in 2016.

Yet while the allure of the Bernabeu may have tempted many, Alonso has revealed he never had any desire to leave the Blues for his former club this summer, and that he intends to remain at Chelsea for the long-term.

“I’ve never been away from Chelsea this summer, I’m very happy there,” he said.

“Unless the club wanted to sell me, my wish is that to stay, the day I decide to retire from football I will return to Spain, but now I have a three year contract with Chelsea and I am very happy there.”

Another Chelsea star who was linked with a move to Madrid this summer was Eden Hazard.

The Belgian playmaker has long been a target for Los Blancos, and after his admission during the summer that it may be “time for a new challenge” following a difficult season with the Blues, it was widely expected Hazard would finally be on his way to the Bernabeu.

However Alonso believes, like himself, there was never any chance his team-mate would leave for the La Liga giants.

“I didn’t see Hazard at Madrid,” he said.

“He is very happy at Chelsea. I don’t know if there was an interest or not but Hazard and his family are very happy here [at Chelsea].”