Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard has admitted he is ecstatic to finally be injury free and able to strut his stuff for Los Blancos next season.
Signed from Chelsea in 2019 in a deal worth up to £150m, Hazard is yet to get going in Madrid. Injuries have restricted him to just 66 appearances in all competitions, yielding a return of just six goals and ten assists.
However, this summer stands to be a turning point in Hazard’s Real career. The Belgian has had surgery to remove the metal plate in his ankle and is now playing without pain for the first time since November 2019.
He’s currently away with Belgium, for whom he put in a dazzling performance against Poland earlier this week, In a break from the international camp, he headed to a Real supporters’ group in Belgium to discuss what the future holds.
“I know I’m indebted to the president, to the wonderful Madrid fans who gave me an incredible welcome at the Bernabeu, and to my teammates and my coach,” he said.
“This season I am very excited to finally demonstrate what I have not been able to demonstrate since I arrived at Madrid.”
On his ankle injury, Hazard added: “It doesn’t hurt anymore and I feel much better. The injury is already forgotten.”
Hazard arrived at the Bernabeu as one of the top talents in world football, with some fans predicting a move to Real could boost his chances of winning a Ballon d’Or, but repeated injury problems – the kind of which he has never experienced before – had some speculating he could be sold this summer.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has always kept faith in the Belgian and, if Hazard’s optimism is to be believed, that loyalty could soon be repaid.
This article was originally published on 90min as Eden Hazard ‘excited’ to finally live up to expectations at Real Madrid.
Source: www.90min.com
