From star to ‘damaged’, Hazard struggling at Real

Barcelona, Feb 5: When Real Madrid broke its own transfer record to sign Eden Hazard, club president Florentino Pérez was confident he spent wisely on a top player who would refresh a team missing Cristiano Ronaldo.
A year and a half later, many in Spain believe Hazard’s ill fortune with injuries mean he will never be the star he was in the English Premier League. Hazard has missed more games (50) than he has played (35) since joining Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 due to a collection of leg injuries, including a troublesome fracture in his right foot during his first season with the Spanish club.
Hazard suffered another setback this week.
Madrid said on Wednesday that Hazard injured his left thigh — reportedly during practice — and his “recovery will continue to be assessed.”
The latest game he will miss is on Saturday, the Spanish league match at Huesca. “Hazard is not happy with the situation,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said on Friday. “Nor does he understand it completely, because he is doing his job. Hazard is the first one who wants things to be different.”
Hazard arrived in Spain in 2019 tasked with filling the void created by Ronaldo’s departure for Juventus one year before. Madrid was convinced that the fee of 100 million euros ($113 million) plus add-ons was worth the dynamic playmaker who scored goals and assisted on many others to help Chelsea win a Premier League, the FA Cup, the English League Cup, and the Europa League twice.
Instead, many fans and voices in the Spanish sports press are questioning if Hazard, given his cost to the club in transfer and wages, has become a liability.
While Gareth Bale’s brittle body also frustrated Madrid’s faithful, the Welshman did provide his team with some spectacular goals, particularly in Champions League finals. Hazard, however, has rarely shown flashes of the talent he displayed at Chelsea. (AP)