Real Madrid has officially announced the departure of forward Eden Hazard at the end of June 2023, despite a remaining year on his contract. The 32-year-old Belgian footballer’s future at Santiago Bernabeu has been in question due to his dwindling playing time under coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The club statement thanked Hazard for his four-season tenure, during which he contributed to the victory of eight titles: a European Cup, Club World Cup, European Super Cup, two LaLiga titles, Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups. The team conveyed their affection for Hazard and wished him and his family the best for his future career phase.
Hazard’s performance has been impacted by recurrent injuries since his transfer from Chelsea four years prior. Consequently, securing a position in the starting lineup has been a challenge for him. Players like Vinicius Junior, Marco Asensio, or Rodrygo were often chosen over Hazard. Furthermore, this season even saw Federico Valverde, a central midfielder, play as a right-winger over Hazard.
Hazard had previously expressed his intent to stay with Real Madrid in an interview with RTBF, as reported by AS. He stated his desire to prove his capabilities and hoped that more playing time would help rebuild trust with the team and fans. He acknowledged the doubts about his performance and clarified that a transfer was not part of his plans. He reiterated that his focus was on playing and contributing to the team.
Despite Hazard’s stated intent, the decision to cut short his time in Madrid has been agreed upon. His future now rests on finding a new club where he can prove his prowess on the pitch once more.
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