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Written by Martin Graham | 25 May 2022
Eden Hazard has effectively ruled out a summer transfer from Real Madrid as he seeks another opportunity to compensate.
The Belgian winger signed with the 35-time La Liga champion in the 2019/20 season after leading Chelsea to the European League title in the 2018/19 season.
His €100m transfer fee has not yielded any fruit for Los Blancos, despite signing him on a big promise as the official heir to Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club in the same summer prior to his signing.
His performance – or lack of it – on the side was not his fault as he has been plagued by injuries since his move to the Spanish capital. In his first season in the League, he played only 16 matches, more than ten of them as a substitute.
In his next season, he played only 14 matches in the League and in the season 2021/22 that just ended, he played only 18 matches in the League. Real Madrid had decided to cut their losses since last year, but the price has been hard for the interested teams.
This season, it has been priced down as low as €20-25 million and shipped roughly in January. Since then, Real Madrid have confirmed it is up for sale, although Hazard has put in long spells and a good form in the second half of another season plagued by injuries.
Hazard hopes to play in the Champions League final
Although he has recovered from surgery in March to remove the plate in his ankle that he broke in March 2020, he is still hoping to play some role in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Reports surfaced that the 31-year-old impressed his coaches and teammates as he looked to convince his coaches that he could play in the final.
Speaking about his surgery and his recovery, Hazard told Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, “The surgery went well. Everything is going well at the moment. I am ready in time to play a role in the Champions League final.”
“I didn’t want to go so fast like last time. The coach understood my situation, as did the medical staff. We did well. Now I feel really good.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is a huge fan of Hazard and has previously stated his intention to keep the player until his contract expires in 2024. Hazard wants to repay the Italian’s faith.
Hazard said: “The coach knows I still have a contract until 2024. My first three seasons at Real Madrid did not go well.” “So I want to show everyone what I can do. Starting on Saturday. Playing for Real has always been a dream. It still is.”
