Eden Hazard needs a reality check on his future at Real Madrid
After making his dream move to Real Madrid in 2019, a lot was expected from Eden Hazard. The Belgian forward was arguably the best in his position and bringing that to the Santiago Bernabeu was a no brainer by the club. Unfortunately for him and Real Madrid, the transfer has been deemed a failure. Injuries have plagued Hazard’s progress and he has never been able to hold down a place due to that. Other players, such as Vinicius Junior, have grown and he has continued falling down the pecking order.
Throughout the course of the season, it looked as though Real Madrid was open to selling the forward if a strong offer arrived. That may still be the case but all signs now point to Hazard staying after Carlo Ancelotti admitted that he will be at the club next season. The manager also added that Hazard wants to stay and is motivated to prove himself next season. However, that’s something we have heard before. Actually, we heard it in the summer of 2020 and 2021. Now, we hear it in 2022. With each passing season, the future looks more bleak for the Belgian, especially when you look at the potential squad Real Madrid will have next season.
On the left flank, Real Madrid currently have Vinicius Junior who is by far the sole holder of that spot. His season has been nothing short of tremendous and he rightfully can call that position his own. However, if anything were to happen (such as injury or rest), Hazard’s not the next name on the sheet. It’s Rodrygo Goes who has really come up this season and whenever he has played on the left, he has made a significant impact. Therefore, Hazard is actually third on the list.
Let’s assume he changes his position to the right. It’s the same issue. Carlo Ancelotti really favors playing Federico Valverde on the right flank but whenever he doesn’t, it’s also Rodrygo Goes. Also, the third option wouldn’t be Hazard. Instead, Ancelotti would go with Marco Asensio. Many have reservations about Asensio and it remains to be seen whether the Spaniard will be at the club next season. But in any case, Asensio has been available more often and has had some great moments this season in front of goal. He’s our third-highest goal scorer in the league, which has to count for something.
Then there is the case of Kylian Mbappe, who is expected to join the club this summer on a free transfer. That only adds to the problems that Hazard would face in getting any time to make his mark on the team. Would Carlo Ancelotti look into changing his desired 4-3-3 formation?
He might. However, does that mean Hazard gets the chance? Probably not. With the forwards at the club consisting of Vinicius, Rodrygo, Asensio, Benzema and possibly Mbappe, there is genuinely no place for Hazard. At the moment, all these mentioned players are better than the Belgian, regardless of how well he could possibly do.
It’s worth noting that his most recent appearance, as a substitute against Cadiz, was successful but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to do well against the bigger teams nor does it mean he will be consistent.
Personally, I think the reason Hazard is staying is because Real Madrid can’t find a club that wants him and will accept the transfer fee and wage demands that this operation will cost them. That’s fair, it’s difficult to bank on a player who has struggled with injuries and playing time since 2019.
As much as Los Blancos would probably like to free up Hazard’s wages, they would also keep in mind that this is a player who is loved and respected at the club. He’s been a source of motivation and assistance for many of the players, hasn’t created any problems with others or any staff members and he’s genuinely doing his best to make his mark in what is definitely the most difficult time of his career.
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Keeping Eden Hazard isn’t a massive issue for the club but for the player, staying is the problem. He may truly believe that he has what it takes to make it back to the top but with the squad Real Madrid will have next season, it seems almost impossible. You need to be extraordinary to bench players like Vinicius, Rodrygo or possibly Mbappe. Hazard isn’t at that level. That’s the reality of his situation right now.