- 12 hours ago
Real Madrid’s WORST transfer ever confirmed with brutal release
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 3 Jun 2023 23:35 BST
- 4 min read
Real Madrid confirmed on Saturday the end of Eden Hazard’s time at the club, with the Belgium international to be released by mutual consent on 30 June.
The decision to release a player still only 32 confirms the former Chelsea star’s status as the most disastrous piece of transfer business ever conducted by the side.
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Even Gareth Bale, who left last summer after being ostracised for much of the 2021/22 season, did not have the ignominy of his time at the club cut short in such a brutal manner.
The Saudi Pro League or perhaps even retirement await the Belgian next.
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Money poorly spentWhen Hazard arrived in the summer of 2019, Real Madrid were panicked into spending €100 million on a player already 28 years old who had just 12 months left on his Chelsea contract. The figure vastly exceeded his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of the time, which was pegged at €65m.
At that time, he was considered a potential Ballon d’Or winner, but the Blues already had concerns over this long-term fitness, particularly with regards an ankle problem. No doubt they did not believe their luck when offered such lucrative terms from Los Blancos.
Regardless, no one could have imagined just how much a passenger that Hazard, who reportedly earns between €20-24m per year, could be throughout a stay at the Bernabeu which was curtailed to four years after he signed a five-season contract.
Indeed, it did not take long for his injury problems to appear. Hazard made only 22 appearances in his first season at the club – and it might have been fewer had Covid-19 not intervened when he was suffering a leg injury.
This, though, would prove to be Hazard at the height of his powers in Madrid. The following season, he managed just 21 appearances and fewer than 900 competitive minutes, in 2021/22 he posted similar figures while in the campaign finishing he may yet make 11 appearances and 400 minutes if Carlo Ancelotti is feeling charitable.
Take into account Hazard’s wages – even at the low end of their estimate and without taking into account any compensation he is being paid to depart early – and his cost to Real Madrid has been eyewatering.
He has cost the club €2.3m per appearance - €48,000 per minute – or €25.7m per goal.
Bad luck may have been involved, but there’s no denying Hazard’s Real Madrid career was a disaster by any stretch, particularly considering his transfer fee.
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