Real Madrid signed Eden Hazard for a minimum of 100 million euros last summer, with the expectation that he’d be their new superstar in the attack.
And before his first injury at the hands of PSG in the Champions League, Eden Hazard was well on his way to becoming Real Madrid‘s new superstar. He dazzled the Santiago Bernabeu with his dribbling skills, ruling counterattacks and drawing dangerous free kicks.
As in the Premier League, defenders could not solve Hazard. He stymied them with his quick feet, strong lower body, and explosive first touch. Hazard coaxed the best football out of Karim Benzema, who was scoring goals like crazy in the month of November.
Real Madrid still played competitive football without Hazard in the second half of the season, even winning the Spanish Supercup by dominating Valencia and squeaking by Atletico Madrid. But by and large, Los Blancos were buoyed by their elite defense and stout midfield. Their attack held them back, even with Isco and Vinicius Junior roaring back into form.
Benzema’s play slipped without Hazard, and while Vinicius ended up being a huge catalyst by the end of the season, Real missed Hazard. The flashes they got of the Belgian before his second injury were too little, even as he remained the team’s brightest player on the pitch.
When Hazard has the ball at his feet, it’s clear he’s the best player on Real Madrid. There’s a special X-Factor he brings to the table when on the ball. Per WhoScored.com, Hazard completed 2.0 more dribbles per game and drew 1.9 more fouls per game than any other player on the team in La Liga last season. Those discrepancies are insane and speak to Hazard’s level of quality.
But Hazard can’t be the lone star. Real Madrid know they need to target another top attacker, specifically a top goal-scorer to support Hazard’s ball-carrying and chance-creation. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are ideal targets, but Sadio Mane and Mauro Icardi could even be options for Florentino Perez.
Mbappe is unrealistic in 2020, but if Haaland signs, he’d immediately challenge Hazard as the team’s best player.
Because for now, there is only one player who is the clear second-best in the attack to Hazard, and that’s Benzema. After that, there are a number of candidates. A huge bounce-back season from Isco, who flashed world-class form in the final weeks before the 2019-2020 campaign was suspended, could make him the second fiddle to Hazard. An unlikely return from loan from Martin Odegaard is worth considering. Achraf Hakimi‘s 10 assists in La Liga and 0.5 goals per game rate in the Champions League make him an intriguing option. Vinicius cannot be overlooked, and neither can Rodrygo Goes after his bright first-half of 2019-2020.
But for now, it’s Benzema behind Hazard and a clear gap between them in terms of quality on the ball and consistency. Real Madrid need to sign another star this summer despite adding Hazard last year, and it will be interesting to see if someone already in the team or purchased in the transfer window replaces Benzema as the new superstar alongside Hazard.