Hazard putting injury woes behind him

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard is confident he can push on this season after an injury-hit first two years in LaLiga.

Hazard signed for Madrid from Chelsea for a reported fee of an initial €100million (£89m), though there was potential for the deal to rise significantly due to additional bonus payments.

However, the Belgium attacker has hardly made an impact in the Spanish capital and is reportedly one of the players Madrid are open to selling as they look to ease their financial difficulties in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Niggling injuries have derailed Hazard’s Madrid career, restricting him to just 43 appearances in total across all competitions over the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns, with 31 of these being starts.

Yet the 30-year-old, who featured for Belgium at Euro 2020 after overcoming an ankle problem, looked sharp as Madrid thrashed Deportivo Alaves in Carlo Ancelotti’s first game back in LaLiga on Saturday, his deft flick teeing up Karim Benzema for Los Blancos’ opener in the 4-1 win.

That assist was one of a game-leading three chances created by Hazard, who lasted 66 minutes before being replaced by Vinicius Junior.

“I have nothing but good feelings for me and for the team,” Hazard told Movistar+. 

“The feelings are good, I’m feeling good, we want to win LaLiga this season.

“My ankle injury is a thing of the past, it’s already out of my head. I am going to give everything this season.”

Hazard started in a front three alongside Gareth Bale and Benzema, who the Belgian found six times in total on Saturday, with only Luka Modric (13), David Alaba and Federico Valverde (both eight) picking out the France striker on more occasions.

“I enjoy playing with Benzema, we know each other very well and it’s easy to play with him,” Hazard added.

A trip to Levante is next up for Madrid in a week’s time.