Real Madrid outcast Eden Hazard was reportedly “physically outmatched” in a training game with the club’s Castilla squad this week.
- Hazard humiliated in training game
- Exiled from Ancelotti’s lineup
- Still under contract at Real until 2024
WHAT HAPPENED? Hazard, who had some time off during the international break after deciding to retire from Belgium duty following the 2022 World Cup, took part in a training game at Real Madrid on Thursday that saw the first-team mix with Castilla players. According to Relevo, the 32-year-old was way off the pace physically during the contest and had difficulty dribbling past any of his opponents, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti watching on from the sidelines.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Hazard has only appeared in seven games for Real Madrid this season in all competitions and does not look to be in Ancelotti’s long-term plans. The former Chelsea winger has one year left on his contract and is allegedly ready to see it out, although rumours of a summer exit lingers.
ADDITIONALLY, in an interview with Eleven Belgium earlier this month, Ancelotti delivered a scathing response when asked to explain Hazard’s lack of playing time. “I’m not here to give every player a chance; I’m here to win games,” he explained. “To win games, I use the best starting eleven. I don’t look at how much a player earns or his age, it’s just about performances.”
At the moment there appears to be no way back for Hazard, who finds himself behind the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in the attacking pecking order at Santiago Bernabeu.
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WHAT NEXT FOR HAZARD? The former Belgium international will hope to be in Ancelotti’s next squad with a view to making an impact off the bench as Real prepare for a La Liga meeting with Real Valladolid on Sunday.
