Hazard runs out of shelter

Eden Hazard does not get anything, neither at Real Madrid nor with the Belgian team. The first is nothing new, because his path to white has been disappointing almost from the first day he signed, back in July 2019. He arrived out of shape and was not long in injury, and when he was gaining cruising speed he suffered a very hard tackle from his compatriot Meunier during a Madrid-PSG that began its ‘via crucis’ of injuries. And until today: five goals and nine assists in 54 games over almost two and a half seasons. Very little from a footballer who cost 100 million euros (more variable by objectives).

Unfortunately for Madrid, that is no longer news (although it seems that he is doing everything on his part, as evidenced by the fact that he returned to Valdebebas earlier than he should have after Roberto Martínez’s permission); but what is new is that even the Belgian national team, that oasis in which Hazard still used to release some drops of quality, is also beginning to fail him. He came to the call for this hiatus of teams in need of affection before so much rejection of Carlo Ancelotti (he has not been a starter in the League for seven consecutive days, despite being supposedly available), but he leaves early and after a disappointing performance in his only encounter with the Red Devils.

There has been pressure from Belgium to improve their situation at Madrid. “It’s a matter of time before we see the best version of Hazard,” Martinez said in an interview with AS in early October. “It is an unusual situation, we did not expect it. I will worry when he stops enjoying football, and for now that has not happened,” explained the Spaniard at the beginning of this break. “I have to call Carlo because this is not fair. Hazard has the mentality that things will improve,” Mertens joked days ago, who coincided with the coach at Naples.

However, Hazard’s contest in this selection break has not been the best possible and, moreover, it has ended abruptly. He started against Estonia in Brussels playing as a midfielder, but neither scored nor assisted in Belgium’s three goals. He had two good chances, a heads-up with everything in his favor in which he was very slow and a shot in good position inside the area that came out centered and loose. He left at 63 ‘to make way for his brother Thorgan, who in half an hour had time to score the third Belgian goal.

Hazard returns with Ancelotti

However, Roberto Martínez wanted to convey positive feelings around Eden: “He has been very diligent, at a very high level. It is true that physically he is not at the best level, it has been noticed, but he has played very well.” Normal that Hazard lacks physical form, because he cannot reach that competition pace without playing regularly. Hence, it is extremely surprising that he has been released by Belgium for the match against Wales, totally inconsequential: the Belgians are already qualified for Qatar 2022 and the British have the repechage assured.

Hazard returns to Madrid, under the command of an Ancelotti who has already hinted, with words, and more clearly, with facts, that at the moment the Belgian has it complicated: With Vinicius at this level (nine goals and seven assists in 16 games so far), the left winger position goes to the Brazilian. There is a gap on the right and there the Italian likes more, for now, the Rodrygo, Asensio and Lucas Vázquez. And to see what happens with Bale, just recovered from his injury. Hazard’s immediate future paints black, he already did it in Madrid and with Belgium, his haven of peace, things do not improve.