Eden Hazard's move from Chelsea went down as one of the worst transfers in Real Madrid's history
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed what transpired with Eden Hazard at Real Madrid and why the Belgian star’s €120 million move from Chelsea will go down as one of the worst in Los Blancos’ history.
Ancelotti explains Hazard’s faults
Hazard arrived as the club’s record transfer and was expected to be a game-changer for Los Blancos but his time at the Santiago Bernabeu was far from successful. The Belgian winger struggled to make an impact and left the club in the summer of 2023, retiring shortly after that at the age of 32.
Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti recently shed light on Hazard’s struggles during his stint with the club on the Obi One Podcast,
Speaking to former Super Eagles captain and a former teammate of Hazard's, John Obi Mikel, Ancelotti highlighted the challenges the Belgian maestro faced, saying, “His problem was injuries, of course, but he also had difficulty competing. You have to train intensely in training when you are not playing. It was difficult for him to compete, fight and play.”
Hazard’s experience under Ancelotti
Notably, Hazard particularly suffered under Ancelotti, and was relegated to a fringe role under the Italian at Real Madrid, even when fit.
During his first season under Ancelotti, Hazard started only nine matches in all competitions and was regularly named among the substitutes.
In his second season under Ancelotti and final season at Real Madrid, Hazard started only four matches, and played a total of 10 games in all competitions, while he was an unused substitute 41 times in the 2022/23 campaign.
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