What went wrong for Eden Hazard at Real Madrid

Eden Hazard's move to Real Madrid in 2019 seemed like a transfer that would work for all parties.

Having strutted his stuff in west London with Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues and more domestic cups, the Belgian great agreed to move to the Bernabeu for a mammoth fee which could have climbed to £150m.

He bowed out of English football as a modern Premier League great and arrived in Spain to much fanfare, but instead Hazard's spell in Spain's capital has been nothing short of disastrous.

Real elected to terminate his contract in the summer of 2023, a year before that deal was due to expire, leaving Hazard with 76 appearances, seven goals and a selection of trophies to show for his four seasons with the club.

Here's where it went wrong for the mercurial winger.

Unfortunate injury record

Injuries became a wicked foe for Hazard in Spain, which was surprising as he was rarely sidelined for too long at Chelsea. The difference in time spent on the sidelines between then and now is worryingly stark.

Over his seven-year stint at the Blues, the forward missed a total of 21 games, whereas he has been absent for 78 matches over his four-year period in Spain.

The Belgian has consistently picked up muscle injuries here and there that ruled him out of action, while younger and more readily available stars began to shine at the Bernabeu.

The emergence of younger stars

Imagine trying to nail down a starting spot when the immediate competition is Vinicius Junior, arguably the most exciting player in the world right now.

The Brazilian performed out of his skin every week in 2022/23 having become a world star the season before, leaving Hazard next to no chance of forcing his way back in.

The likes of Rodrygo and Federico Valverde have also enjoyed more time on the flank than Hazard. With the rebuild in full swing in the summer of 2023, there was little reason to keep Hazard around with such exciting players coming through, leaving the former Lille ace shuffling towards the exit door.

Real Madrid's high standards

Like the majority of Europe's elite, Real is a club moulded by winners. They have consistently signed and produced players with the mental capabilities to perform under the most intense pressure.

Maybe Hazard's showcase of talent in London can be attributed to Chelsea's play revolving around him as the main star, whereas he became just another player in the Los Blancos roster. That's no slight on his natural talent, but Hazard has certainly fallen short of the standards set by Real hall of famers.

He was also given the unenviable task of taking the number seven shirt, which had most previously been donned by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal international was Real's primary source of goals during his years at the club and his legacy has been followed by a player who averaged a goal every 11 outings.

Madrid could have helped Hazard by understanding he was not a Ronaldo clone and wouldn't reach those lofty goal tally heights the Real great did, but let's be real; if a player can't shake off injuries and fitness issues, it's close to impossible for them to succeed at a club like Madrid.

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