Toni Kroos with BRUTAL attack on Eden Hazard

Tom Hancock

• 14 Jun 2023 21:48 BST
• 3 min read

Toni Kroos has taken a thinly veiled swipe at Real Madrid teammate Eden Hazard, suggesting that the Belgian was a waste of money.

Hazard will leave Real when his contract expires at the end of this month, having made a negligible impact since joining for €100m from Chelsea four years ago.

That transfer remains one of the 15 most expensive of all time – and, by the sounds of it, Kroos wishes Los Blancos hadn’t done the deal.

MORE: Real Madrid's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

Speaking on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast as Real completed a €103m move for Jude Bellingham, the former Germany midfielder explained:

“€103m transfer fee? We now also had someone [Hazard] who came for a lot of money and virtually let his career rest. A lot of money and I think everyone would say in retrospect: that was not such a good transfer…”

Kroos also had his say on Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema’s decision to quit Real for Saudi Pro League

champions Al-Ittihad this summer. The 33-year-old continued:

“Karim to Saudi? You can go or you may not go; it is each person’s decision. There are circumstances that contribute to the decision-making; you do not interfere with it…”

MORE: How Real Madrid will line up with Jude Bellingham

Hazard to hang up his boots?

While injuries have played their part, it’s quite staggering to see that Hazard has made just 76 appearances for Real – average out at a mere 19 per season.

One of the best players in the world at his peak, the 32-year-old’s career has stalled to the point that there’s even been speculation that he could retire.

In the season just gone, Hazard featured only 10 times in all competitions – his lowest involvement since 2007/08, when he made his professional debut.