Eden Hazard has effectively ruled out a summer transfer from Real Madrid as he seeks another chance at redemption.
The Belgian winger signed for the 35-time LaLiga champions in the 2019/20 season after leading Chelsea to the UEFA Europa League title in the 2018/19 season.
His €100 million transfer fee has not yielded any fruit for Los Blancos, however, despite being signed with so much promise as the official heir to Cristiano Ronaldo, who departed the club in the same summer before he was signed.
His performance – or lack of – in the side has been no fault of his because he has been plagued with injuries since he moved to the Spanish capital. In his first LaLiga season, he managed only 16 appearances, with more than ten of those as a substitute.
In his next season, he played only 14 LaLiga games and in the just concluded 2021/22 season, he played only 18 LaLiga games. Real Madrid had decided to cut their losses since last year but the price tag was difficult to match for the interested teams.
This season, his price tag was dropped to as low as €20 – €25 million and he was almost shipped out in January. Madrid have since maintained that he is for sale, despite Hazard having good stretches of games and form in the second half of another injury-plagued season.
Hazard hopes to play in the Champions League final
Despite being in recovery from a surgery performed in March to remove the plate in his ankle which he broke in March 2020, he still hopes he can play some part in the upcoming UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool.
Reports have emerged of the 31-year-old impressing his coaches and teammates in training as he looks to convince the handlers that he can play in the final.
Speaking of his surgery and his recovery, Hazard told Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws, “The surgery went well. Everything is going well at the moment. I am ready just in time to play a part in the Champions League final.
“I didn’t want to go too fast like last time. The coach understood my situation, as did the medical staff. We have worked well. Now I feel really good.”
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is a big fan of Hazard and has previously stated his intention to keep the player until his contract ends in 2024. Hazard wants to repay the Italian’s faith.
“The coach knows that I still have a contract until 2024. My first three seasons at Real have not gone well,” said Hazard. “So I want to show everyone what I can do. Starting with this Saturday. It has always been a dream to play for Real. It still is.”
