Eden Hazard and Real Madrid seemed destined to be a match made in heaven when he completed his £150million move from Chelsea back in 2019.
In reality, three-and-a-half years later, the move was the start date of Hazard’s decline in what has proven to be a disastrous deal for a player once regarded as one of the world’s best.
The injury-ravaged Hazard has played just three league games this season, and is set to have another spell on the sidelines after suffering a knock to his left knee.
His latest setback is the 18th injury he has suffered since joining the Spanish giants and, to date, he has missed 75 games for Los Blancos in total.
It has left a feeling of what might have been for Hazard, who has proven to be a costly flop for Real Madrid – at a cost of £21m per goal that he has scored (7).
Eden Hazard’s three-and-a-half year stint at Real Madrid has been blighted with injury issues
Hopes were high when Madrid signed the Belgian winger from Chelsea for a fee of £150m
However he’s missed 75 games in total and has cost £21m-per-goal with only seven to his name
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, he has only completed the full duration of a match for Real Madrid on six occasions – five of which came in his first season at the Bernabeu.
HAZARD’S INJURY NIGHTMARES
Patella tendon irritation: Feb 4, 2023- Unknown (ongoing)
Ankle injury: Jan 21, 2023- Jan 28, 2023 (seven days)
Fissure of the fibula: Mar 25, 2022- May 14, 2022 (50 days)
Abdominal Influenza: Nov 19, 2021- Nov 30, 2021 (11 days)
Muscular problems: Oct 8, 2021- Oct 22, 2021 (14 days)
Hamstring injury: Jun 28, 2021-Aug 12, 2021 (45 days)
Knock: May 21, 2021- May 23, 2021 (two days)
Muscle Injury: Mar 15, 2021- Apr 22, 2021 (38 days)
Muscle Injury: Feb 3, 2021- Mar 12, 2021 (37 days)
Muscle Injury: Nov 28, 2020-Dec 28, 2020 (30 days)
Coronavirus: Nov 7, 2020- Nov 20, 2020 (13 days)
Muscle Injury: Sep 30, 2020- Oct 27, 2020 (27 days)
Knock: Sep 1, 2020- Sep 28, 2020 (27 days)
Knock: Jun 29, 2020- Jul 9, 2020 (10 days)
Fissure of the fibula: Feb 23, 2020- May 9, 2020 (76 days)
Hairline crack in the foot: Dec 5, 2019- Feb 10, 2020 (67 days)
Bruised Ankle: Nov 27, 2019- Dec 5, 2019 (eight days)
Hamstring Injury: Aug 16, 2019- Sep 10, 2019 (25 days)
While Hazard averaged 22 appearances in his first three seasons in Spain, he averaged 50 per campaign during his seven years with Chelsea – playing 52 and 51 before he made the switch.
His goal tallies were just as consistent at Stamford Bridge – barring the 2015-16 season where Jose Mourinho’s second spell at the club ended disastrously.
The Belgian scored 17 and 21 goals in five of his last six campaigns at Chelsea, and Real Madrid expected a similar level of output.
However, he arrived in the Spanish capital overweight and his fitness and injury issues have been the main cause of concern for ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and his successor Carlo Ancelotti.
He had three off-seasons of ‘getting carried away’ and returning up to five kilos overweight amid his struggles with injury and fitness.
Ancelotti though was pleased with Hazard’s conditioning at the start of the current campaign, and the 32-year-old went until January without suffering an injury.
There was plenty of optimism during pre-season that this would be the year that Hazard showed what he could do.
Hazard broke his right ankle two years ago and had a plate fitted to stabilise the injury as it healed.
He had the plate removed last year and recovered from his operation quickly enough to have an outside chance of starting the Champions League final win over Liverpool.
Madrid had considered loaning Hazard out this season but Real Madrid’s president Florentino Perez was keen for the club’s record transfer to work.
Hazard himself was hopeful, commenting before the season: ‘Madridistas, I’ve been here for three years with many injuries, with many things. But next year I’m going to give it all for you.’
But while Hazard has stood still, Real’s other attacking options have flourished with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr now ahead of the Belgian in the pecking order.
As a result, the Belgian has made just seven appearances all season and has mostly been left as an used sub.
Hazard was one of the best players in the Premier League during his time at Chelsea
His numbers at Real Madrid come nowhere close to the player who ran the show at Chelsea
‘I’m sorry. I’m trying, but … I’m sorry,’ Hazard said in an interview with Marca published in November.
‘I have one more year and I have to show [what I can do] but it isn’t easy. I’m not playing, I want to play more. I’m really sorry about what has happened.’
When talking about his past injury problems he added: ‘The first [injury] was after playing against Paris Saint-Germain and the second came almost three months later.
‘They were two fractures… [The next problem] was different, because it was an infection with the metal plate.
‘I wanted to have an operation sooner … but the club said “It’s impossible, you have to stay calm, we’ve spoken to the doctors, it’s not a problem with the plate.” But the third year it was the same: injury, injury … I’m not saying it was the fault of the club, the doctor or the operation; I want to say it was many things.’
Hazard broke his ankle two seasons ago and had a plate fitted to stabilise it – something which was removed last year
Despite impressing Ancelotti in pre-season, Hazard was left stunned at the World Cup when an Egyptian journalist fat-shamed him before having the audacity to ask for a photo of him.
‘We noticed that you have gained a little weight,’ the journalist stated in Arabic.
Hazard then picked up an earpiece to access a translation and said: ‘Can you repeat?’
The reporter continued: ‘Recently, we noticed that you have gained weight. How are you dealing with this and what caused it?’
‘No, that’s not true. My weight has remained stable. I always work hard on my fitness and I think that’s the most important thing,’ a clearly unhappy Hazard replied.
Hazard has come back to three pre-seasons overweight and needed a lot of work to get back into acceptable condition for the LaLiga club – though last summer he had no issues
Fans have largely been patient with Hazard despite their frustration with his below-par performances.
Hazard’s struggles were even picked out by a fourth division Spanish player during a Copa del Rey match.
The Belgian struggled to make an impact on the game and was hauled off against Cacereno with the score at 0-0 – before a Rodrygo goal secured victory.
In fact, the Belgian attacker left the pitch having not had a shot, while he also failed to complete any dribbles.
And following the game, Carmelo Mereciano, who played for Cacereno in the clash, slammed Hazard’s performance.
‘Hazard? It was like he didn’t care about the game,’ he told Spanish outlet Diario AS.
‘He didn’t want to take the ball, he didn’t run. He was totally unnoticed.’
However, Ancelotti defended his player and insisted the tricky conditions at Cacereno’s stadium meant it was a tough game for all of his players.
Hazard was fat-shamed and questioned by a fourth division Spanish player in recent months
Hazard looks likely to leave this summer and has been linked with the MLS and Saudi Arabia
The Belgian’s injury problems have meant Hazard has not played a single minute in an El Clasico match against Barcelona – despite the two teams playing nine times in his spell as a Real Madrid player.
Hazard has just one year left on his contract, though there’s a strong possibility that Real Madrid could move him on at the end of the season.
The question though is where next for a player who has suffered with injuries, fitness and would be unlikely to play the full duration of a match even if he does feature.
The Athletic reported last month that Hazard, who can earn up to £13m after tax in a season, is set to meet his agents sometime in February to thrash out plans for his immediate future.
Chelsea and Newcastle have previously been linked, but it would be a big gamble from either of the two Premier League sides.
He has also been linked with moves to Turkey, the MLS and Saudi Arabia.
El Chiringuito reported that Hazard has ‘held talks with Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia’ about a potential transfer to the club – which could see him join forces with Cristiano Ronaldo.
It’s clear though that Hazard could do with a fresh start, with this season proving that even when he’s available, Madrid don’t have enough trust in the Belgian to give him regular game-time.
source: dailymail.co.uk
