Antonio Conte won't stop Eden Hazard from Chelsea exit

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Bengaluru, August 7: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has admitted that he can't stop Eden Hazard from leaving the club for Barcelona if the Belgian wishes to join the Catalans.

The sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million has put several teams, including the Blues, on alert as the Catalans look to replace their Brazilian star.

There aren't many players better than Hazard in that role where Barcelona used to have Neymar and they also have a whole lot of money to invest as well.

The Belgian is among the players being touted as a possible target for the Spanish giants, and despite Conte having previously brushed off the possibility of a move, the Italian now admits that the final decision will not be his to make.

"Eden Hazard is a really top player, but I repeat I am the coach and I can give my opinion. But the final decision is always the club's," Conte said.

"I expect Eden to play for Chelsea. It is not the right moment to lose a player or players."

Conte has been unimpressed by his club's transfer business this summer, despite having already landed Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata, and the club's plans took another hit on Saturday when Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri made it clear that the Italian side would not be selling their bombarding full-back Alex Sandro.

The fans have been frustrated as well as Chelsea have sold or loaned out most of their promising young players this season too whereas there is an obvious lack of depth in the side.

Chelsea were beaten by local rivals Arsenal on Sunday in the FA Community Shield which acts as the curtain-raiser of English football and now, if Hazard departs the club, the fans will surely be in the blues.