Why Hazard is on his way out of Real Madrid
Robin Bairner
- 29 Oct 2021 08:47 CDT
- 3 min read
The 2021/22 season was the one in which Eden Hazard was supposed to bounce back at Real Madrid.
A €100 million signing in the summer of 2019 from Chelsea, Hazard has toiled since moving to the Bernabeu, playing only 52 matches and scoring just five goals.
It is a far cry from the player who shone at Stamford Bridge and further still from a player who was expected to be a successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as a Ballon d’Or winner.
Instead, Hazard appears to be heading for the exit door, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti even admitting in midweek that he prefers other options.
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Even if the Italian left the door open for Hazard to return to the starting XI, it seems inconceivable that he will do so to such a degree that he will be given the type of minutes that he clearly needs to rediscover his best form.
Unsurprisingly, Hazard’s name is being linked with a move away from Madrid. While rumours of a switch back to Chelsea appear optimistic, a transfer to Newcastle is altogether likelier.
So why has it gone so wrong for Hazard?
Injuries
Eden Hazard’s time at Real Madrid has been beset by physical problems. Before moving to Spain, he was considered to be a robust player who missed few matches, but in Madrid he has suffered setback after setback.
Often his problems have not been hugely serious but have been sufficient to keep him out for four or five weeks at a time. This has had the effect of preventing him from gaining any kind of momentum and gaining the type of match sharpness he needs to be at his best.
Vini Jr
For a long while, Real Madrid were frustrated with the progress of Vini Jr, who arrived with a huge reputation but struggled subsequently to live up to it. Now Hazard has gained a reasonable degree of fitness, the young forward has picked his time to flourish.
With seven goals and five assists in 13 matches this season, the 21-year-old is suddenly a fixture in the first team and Hazard’s importance has diminished immensely as a consequence.
Money
Although Real Madrid’s financial position is not nearly as bad as Barcelona’s, the economic climate around football means that they have to be careful with their wage bill.
In the summer of 2022, the goal is to sign both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. That means making room on their payroll.
As a major star no longer a fixture in the starting XI, Hazard is a player who is suddenly dispensable for Real Madrid. If a suitable offer arrives, he is dispensable.
