Real Madrid’s patience with Eden Hazard has run out and the club are willing to listen to offers for the Belgian forward this summer.
The former Chelsea man has (spectacularly) failed to live up to expectations since his mega-money move from the Blues little less than two years ago.
Despite potentially being available on a free transfer the following year, Real Madrid forked out over €100m (£89m) before add-ons on Hazard in 2019 – a decision that looks more and more foolish with every passing subpar performance.
Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
The worst transfer of all time? ?
— 90min (@90min_Football) May 6, 2021
The 30-year-old’s time in Madrid has been plagued by injuries – so much so that he’s mustered just 27 La Liga appearances (and three goals) in nearly two full seasons at the club. Meanwhiles pictures of the Belgian laughing with his former Chelsea teammates shortly after Real’s Champions League semi-final defeat seem to have irked the Spanish press more than his actual on-field displays.
Hazard was seen joking with Blues defender Kurt Zouma shortly after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, with the notoriously excitable pundits at El Chiringuito taking particular offence while claiming the Madrid hierarchy were just as furious at the forward’s actions.
Blowing something out of proportion to get more viewers? Probably, though it seems they may not be far off, with Marca reporting that Real are open to offers for Hazard this summer.
The report does add that Hazard’s actions at Stamford Bridge haven’t influenced the decision to entertain offers for the Belgian (so turns out El Chiringuito were right for the wrong reasons) and that even if Real go on to be crowned La Liga champions this season it won’t change their decision.
You can take the player out of Chelsea… ? pic.twitter.com/3Cq92Ewlly
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 5, 2021
Putting Hazard in the shop window is all well and good, though it does beg the question who would possibly look at the injury-prone forward with a whopping contract as a viable option?
The 30-year-old still has more than three years remaining on his reported £400,000-a-week deal, and with clubs looking to tighten the purse strings amid the coronavirus pandemic shipping him out looks a tall order.
Could a Gareth Bale-style loan be on the cards…?
