Eden Hazard’s tenure at Chelsea was marked by sheer brilliance. He was the most prized asset in the Chelsea squad during that period. In 2019, he embarked on a groundbreaking transfer to Real Madrid, setting a new world record with a potential fee reaching £150 million.
However, his fitness and form drastically declined as soon as he completed his move to Real Madrid. According to Daily Mail, the Belgian forward has scored only seven goals throughout his Real Madrid career. To this day, Hazard’s fitness is still a significant concern for the English teams interested in his signing.
Premier League suitors wary of Hazard’s fitness following Real Madrid exit
Because Eden Hazard regularly struggled for fitness and form, he hardly got a considerable playing time. In the 2023/24 season, Eden Hazard was once unfit to play for two months, featuring 296 minutes in all competitions and contributing just one goal and an assist.
In a conversation with the French media in 2019, Hazard openly acknowledged that he had returned to Madrid for pre-season carrying some extra weight. He said, “I won’t deny it; I truly indulge and take a break during my vacation. I had put on five kilos; I’m the type to put on quickly and lose so quickly if I’m careful.”
According to Goal, Eden Hazard, who is presently without a team after departing from Real Madrid, has captured the attention of several Premier League clubs in the past few weeks. However, many of these teams are concerned about his subpar physical condition, potentially hindering his return to England.
The 32-year-old Belgian forward was also considered by the Saudi Pro League and the MLS, but he reportedly rejected their offers. And, at some point, he was even considering retirement.
Due to his status as a free agent, clubs still retain the opportunity to secure Hazard’s signature even after the transfer deadline on Friday. This outcome could become a viable choice for clubs, provided they become convinced of the winger’s physical condition.
How many games did Eden Hazard play for Real Madrid?
As reported by The Athletic, even though Eden Hazard’s future at Real Madrid was uncertain, the Belgian player insisted that he would remain at Real Madrid until the conclusion of his contract, which extends until June 2024. Hazard and his team had jointly concluded that his desire was to continue being a part of Los Blancos, driven by a combination of career-oriented and personal motivations.
However, it was not so a surprising turn of events as Real Madrid announced on Saturday that it had reached an exit agreement with Hazard, ending a tenure that began with a massive transfer from Chelsea and saw him play only 54 matches total, with only seven goals for Los Blancos. Real Madrid’s full statement on Eden Hazard’s departure reads;
“Real Madrid Football Club and Eden Hazard have reached an agreement whereby the player will leave the club as of 30 June 2023.
“Eden Hazard has been part of our club for four seasons, during which time he has won 8 titles: 1 European Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey and 2 Spanish Super Cups.
“Real Madrid would like to express our affection to Eden Hazard, and we wish him and his family the best of luck for the next stage of his career.”
There have been interests from Saudi Arabia, MLS, and England. However, these teams need to be sure that Eden Hazard will be fit and keep fit for most of his contract. Where do you think Eden should go? Make sure to tell us what you think in the comments.
