'His problem was injuries...' - Carlos Ancelotti explains why superstar could not succeed at Real Madrid

Manager of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, has opened out about what happened to Eden Hazard while he was a player there and why the €120 million transfer from Chelsea will go down as one of the worst in Los Blancos' history. 

Though Hazard was supposed to be a game-changer for Real Madrid upon arriving as the club's record transfer, his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu was anything but fruitful. Due to injuries and erratic play, Hazard found it difficult to make an impression throughout his time in Madrid. The 32-year-old Belgian winger departed the team in the summer of 2023 after failing to make an impression.

Although this surprised many, Carlo Ancelotti seems to have been among those who anticipated it. Speaking on The Obi One Podcast (via Relevo), the Italian coach discussed Hazard's mindset while he was a member of Los Blancos. “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,” as per Goal.com

Eden Hazard started just nine games in all competitions during his debut season under Ancelotti, and he was frequently used as a replacement. Hazard played a total of 10 games across all competitions in his second season under Ancelotti and his final season at Real Madrid. He was an unutilized substitute 41 times throughout the 2022–2023 season. Hazard started only four games during this period.

Eden Hazard to retirement in 2023

Shortly after departing Real Madrid, Hazard declared his retirement. in 2023 at the age of 32 after making just 76 appearances for Real Madrid and scoring just seven goals. Real Madrid has had some difficult times recently, but Hazard's tenure is among the few bad ones. Still, the team cannot bear all the burden. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise since, following that 2019 signing, Florentino Perez successfully changed the transfer rules.