What could Eden Hazard bring to Real Madrid?

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates scoring his second goal, Chelsea's third, during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at Amex Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Eden Hazard of Chelsea celebrates scoring his second goal, Chelsea's third, during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea at Amex Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Day by day, we hear the same story. ‘Eden Hazard is waiting on a Real Madrid offer’ it is quickly becoming the story of this season. Will it happen? How much? When? However, what could the Belgian bring to the Bernabeu that we do not already possess?

LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Ayoze Pérez of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Newcastle United FC at Stamford Bridge on January 12, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Ayoze Pérez of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Newcastle United FC at Stamford Bridge on January 12, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

The 28 year-old is not the only player in Chelsea’s team to see his position shifted around under new boss, Mauricio Sarri. Switched from either flank and also played as a false 9, Hazard has shown solid ability this season to be effective in each position his is used in – something that Madrid currently lacks. Gareth Bale has been largely inconsistent whenever and wherever he has played, Marco Asensio is ineffective on the left, though very useful on the right despite never being used there, Vinicius and Karim Benzema are perhaps the only attackers this season who have shown strength in their positions wherever played.

Should Madrid decide to bring in Eden Hazard, they can take comfort in the fact that they could comfortably play him anywhere along the forward line without causing disruption to others. A common argument made by many.

Effective, decisive and world class ability in scoring and chance creation:

WATFORD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Eden Hazard of Chelsea scores his team’s first goal past Ben Foster of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Chelsea FC at Vicarage Road on December 26, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Eden Hazard of Chelsea scores his team’s first goal past Ben Foster of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Chelsea FC at Vicarage Road on December 26, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

He may not be a serial scorer but this season at Chelsea, Hazard has provided the goods in front of goal. With 10 goals in the league as well as 10 assists, only one of two players to achieve that feat in Europe alongside Lionel Messi. Not only has he made regular contributions this season but he’s proving to be vital in Chelsea’s top 4 chances – the Belgian’s goals and assists make up for a whopping 50% of their Premier League tally. No player in Madrid right now is even close to these kinds of numbers, the closest would be Karim Benzema, after him? The drop off is huge.

Outside of his scoring numbers, Hazard is an elite creator of chances. In the Premier League since 2016 he has created a total of 229 chances, second only to Eriksen and ahead of the likes of De Bruyne, Silva and Ozil. His numbers this season continue to back-up just how effective he is when on form, averaging 2.7 shots P/90 in the Premier League, more than everyone in Madrid bar Bale who averages 3.5, Hazard is making 3 dribbles P/90 that is nearly triple what any other attacker in Madrid is making – Asensio being the closest on 1.3 and he’s laying on 2.8 key passes P/90, more than every player in the Madrid squad.

The Belgian is also proving to be decisive with and without the ball. Highlighted in his recent performances where even with fewer than 80 touches of the ball in some games, he has managed to score and/or assist, he’s showing that cutting edge that the Madrid attack is heavily lacking at this point in time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Madrid should certainly look to bring in attackers if they want to reignite their season. It is clear that the attack is struggling with the team putting up some of the worst numbers in recent times. A player of Hazard’s ilk may not only help kickstart the campaign but he could also prove decisive in the remaining big games of the season. Madrid have clearly lost a fear-factor in recent times with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Eden Hazard could be that talent that brings the aura of fear back to the Spanish capital.