Why Eden Hazard hasn’t done enough to secure his Real Madrid future
After a disappointing debut season with Real Madrid, an optimistic Eden Hazard reassured the fans to judge him on his second season at the club. To his surprise, Hazard’s second season has once again been an unconvincing one as the Belgian has struggled with injuries and is yet to deliver a masterclass performance in the white shirt.
Los Blancos paid a fortune in 2019, a club-record transfer fee worth 100 million euros to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea. The expectations set were sky high after Hazard’s performance with the Blues in the 2018/19 season, scoring 21 goals and providing 17 assists in all competitions. However, his consistent injuries over the past two seasons at the Spanish capital have limited and hindered the 30-year-old’s ability to perform at his optimal levels.
MARCA reports that Real Madrid have considered parting ways with the Belgian after two unsuccessful years. The club is open to selling Eden Hazard this summer and could be willing to let him go for as low as half the transfer fee that Real paid in 2019.
However, selling the 30-year-old does not sound as easy it may seem, even if Los Blancos put him up for sale for 50 million euros. Most of the top sides already have their front three players ready and are not in the market for a left-winger. The only possible option seems like a return to Chelsea where Eden Hazard showcased his best football.
The Blues could make use of the 30-year-old in their attack alongside the likes of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech. However, there is yet another stumbling block. Chelsea’s wages are already amongst one of the highest in the Premier League after signing high profile players last summer and the possible addition of Hazard would only mount more issues given his hefty wages.
Why are Real Madrid considering an Eden Hazard sale this summer?
Los Blancos have prioritised the signing of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain this summer transfer market. The operation is expected to cost the club over 150 million euros and Real will considered freeing up funds from their wages and also selling a few players to raise funds.
Eden Hazard’s wages cost the club approximately 25 million euros a season and after two underwhelming seasons, the club wants to move on from the Belgian. Selling the 30-year-old for 50 million euros this summer would remove the burden of paying Hazard his hefty annual salary.
Instead, the wages the freed can be used for Mbappe’s contract. Los Blancos will also look into the option of selling several other players alongside Eden Hazard. The likes of Luka Jovic, Mariano Diaz, Isco, Marcelo, Gareth Bale, and Dani Ceballos could all be sold over the summer to raise funds for operation Mbappe.
The 22-year-old French forward may well and truly be on his way to the Spanish capital after he recently snubbed a question regarding his future at Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid gear up to sign one of the most sought after players in the world but at the price of axing players such as Eden Hazard.
Meanwhile, injuries continue to haunt Eden Hazard
Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Eden Hazard has been left out for the crucial final home and league fixture against Villarreal. The Frenchman did not provide significant details about Hazard’s status by stating that “Hazard has something. He will not be with us tomorrow.”
However, Arancha Rodriguez has confirmed that Eden Hazard picked up a minor injury that does not look to be very serious after the initial round of scans. It seems to be a muscular overload on the Belgian’s right thigh which means that he will be missing the crunch fixture against Villarreal.
The decision not to include Hazard in the squad is certainly a precautionary measure taken by the player and the manager to prevent any sort of injury escalating any further with Euro 2020 around the corner. The 30-year-old was named in Roberto Martinez’s 30 man squad for the Euro’s and Hazard will look to prove a point in the competition with Belgium who are strong contenders to win the European cup.
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The injury to Hazard means that Zinedine Zidane will have to consider playing Vinicius Jr on the left-wing instead. The Brazilian winger has managed to stay fit the entire season which has come as surprise to many since Real have dealt with over 60+ injuries in the 2020/21 campaign.