Can Eden Hazard rediscover his Chelsea form at Real Madrid?
Eden Hazard joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in the summer of 2019 for a whopping £89m. The fee was expected to rise further and exceed £150m. Hazard, who signed a five-year contract, was expected to take La Liga by storm. However, the 2019-20 season turned out to be horrific for the Belgian. Can he rediscover his Chelsea form at Real Madrid?
The Belgian international scored 110 goals in 352 games for Chelsea after joining from Lille in 2012. He made 245 appearances in the Premier League and scored 85 goals, besides making 54 assists. Hazard went on to win six major trophies at Chelsea which included two EPL and Europa League titles. He was adjudged Premier League Player of the Season in 2014-15.
One of the striking factors that helped Hazard thrive at Chelsea was his consistency for seven successive seasons. His mileage and longevity helped the club in massive ways. Hazard endured just one poor season in 2015-16. It saw Chelsea finish 10th. Besides that, he hit double figures consistently and played in a staggering number of matches. Somehow, 2019-20 robbed Hazard of the same.
The former Chelsea legend suffered a major injury layoff of nearly three months after suffering a micro-fracture in his right ankle back in November. The forward then limped off in a defeat against Levante in La Liga in February. Tests confirmed Hazard was diagnosed with a fracture to his right distal fibula. He is now recovering from the surgery in Madrid.
The Belgian summed up his first season at the Spanish club. "My first season at Real has been bad," Hazard told Belgian national broadcaster RTBF. "But you don't throw everything away. It was a season of adaptation. I will be judged on my second season. It is up to me to be in good shape next year."
Real Madrid will need Hazard to lead the line next season. The versatile forward will be aiming to get in sync with the other attackers and help Real dominate matches. Till the start of 2019-20, Hazard had the most successful dribbles in European club football. There is no doubt that the forward can enhance his reputation and bring the attacking threat Real want.
