Arrived at Real Madrid in 2019, the most French of Belgians does not convince in the Spanish capital. This season, the former Chelsea player has only played 83 minutes in the Champions League.
The wave of hopes aroused by the arrival of Eden Hazard in Madrid lived well. After seven seasons in the British capital defending the colors of the Chelsea Blues, Eden Hazard settled in Madrid during the 2019 off-season, swapping blue for Real white. A year after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, he was to replace the fivefold golden ball in the eleven of Real Madrid. Failing to have the same stats as the Portuguese striker, Eden Hazard had to bring speed, passion, dribbling and madness on this abandoned left lane. The Belgian winger was then the number one attraction of this summer transfer window for the Merengues.
The White House got a makeover
If Real Madrid spent 115 million euros to secure the services of the player trained in Lille, it is not the only transfer of importance that summer in the Spanish capital. Florentino Perez begins a revival. Lucas Jovic, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo or Eder Militao also arrive at the White House.
Eden Hazard will soon have completed his third season in Madrid without ever having convinced, already leaving regrets. Since his arrival in Spain, the former LOSC has had a low record of 65 games played for six goals and only ten assists. By comparison, he had played 62 games in his first season at Chelsea, scoring 13 times and providing 24 assists. This season never again seems to be one too many and a marriage – which has never really started – already consummated.
«His problem is that he could not always train at 100%, as he does now“, explained Carlo Ancelotti on December 18th. “He has everything to have a very good second half of the season and be useful and important for the team.assured the Italian coach. And yet…
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Only 83 minutes in the Champions League
In 2022, Eden Hazard has only had two starts with Real Madrid. 78 minutes in the Copa del Rey on January 5, 79 minutes against Elche in La Liga on January 23. Otherwise, the Belgian had to make do with scraps, coming on six times since the new year. A total of 22 games played during the 2021-2022 financial year for abysmal statistics: one goal and two assists. 877 minutes of play, 40 minutes per game on average. On February 4, Brand, a Madrid daily, placed Real’s No. 7 in Carlo Ancelotti’s “invisible eleven”, along with other attackers such as Luka Jovic, Mariano Diaz and Gareth Bale. This season, the Real coach is relying on a fiery duo with Benzema and Vinicius (43 goals to two). For the position of right winger, the Italian tactician alternates between Marco Asensio (1549 minutes of play in total) and Rodrygo (1464 minutes). The four invisible attacking Real (Hazard, Bale, Mariano, Jovic) accumulate them 1804 minutes spent on the ground.
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This season, Eden Hazard faces competition from the youngest (Vinicius and Rodrygo aged 21) but also some choices from his coach. The Belgian, who turned 31 on January 7, has only played 22 games this season. He has only been on the pitch for 83 minutes this season in the Champions League. Holder during the surprise defeat against the Sheriff (2-1) on September 28, before coming into play nine minutes against Inter in the last group match. The former Lille also came into play seven minutes in the round of 16 first leg at the Parc des Princes. Only nine starts during this season for the 2011 French champion.
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Only one goal at Santiago-Bernabeu
«I have known Eden for many years, I know that his dream has always been to play for Real Madrid, and not being able to achieve his goals at this club really saddens him.Explained goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, teammate of Eden Hazard at Chelsea, Real and the Belgian national team. “His day will come, when the coach decides to play him. We must not forget the qualities that Eden has. Today, in football, we very quickly forget the talent of certain players, but these qualities, this talent, do not disappear overnight. We can’t bury him or think he’s just any player, because he isn’t.Forced to note that his balance sheet is very far from the expectations and standards of the Belgian.
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A goal in his first season with Real Madrid, October 5, 2019 against Granada. Decisive twice during this 8th day of La Liga, he allowed Real to win 4-2 and take the three points. This is Eden Hazard’s first goal at the Santiago Bernabeu in the colors of Real, the only one in the Madrid stadium since his arrival. During his second season, the former Blues is more prolific. Hampered by several injuries and the coronavirus, the Belgian only played 21 games with the White House. He scored four goals in 896 minutes, one goal every 224 minutes on average. Eden Hazard has scored well at home since his goal in 2019 but at the Estadio Di Stefano.
Only two Top 10 at the Ballon d’Or
Despite his weak performances and poor performances with Real Madrid, Eden Hazard still seems to be appreciated by the Belgians. “He has to play, to be in a group where he feels he is important, to get out of this Madrid mess that never ends.“says journalist Guillaume Raedts, for the national media The evening . The Belgian journalist would like to see the number 7 of Real summoned with Belgium, for the next matches in March, in the same way as Romelu Lukaku, in difficulty with Chelsea. “These two can also be used as guides so that newcomers do not find themselves completely lost, and so that these matches also serve a purpose..»
At 31, Eden Hazard is more at the end of his career, even if he should have a few good years ahead of him. He who is champion of France, champion of England and champion of Spain now has a good track record. However, the one everyone saw as a future Ballon d’Or only reached the Top 10 of the most prestigious individual award twice. Eighth in 2015 after his Premier League title with Chelsea. The same ranking in 2018, after his third place at the World Cup. A possible golden ball is no longer within reach of the player with 115 caps and 33 goals with the Red Devils. Eden Hazard must now revive and this may involve a transfer this summer, he who is under contract until 2024 with Real Madrid.
