Real Madrid left-winger Eden Hazard made his long-awaited return to the Real Madrid squad this past Sunday against Cadiz, and he was able to get in a good 30 minutes off the bench for Rodrygo Goes in his favored position on the left side of the attack.
It’s a position he did not get to play that much earlier this season due to Vinicius Jr.’s breakout. And in his first match since ankle surgery, Hazard made quite an impression on the Madridistas.
The experienced Belgian attacker completed a whopping five dribbles, drew two yellow-card fouls, and even had a key pass in just a half-hour of action. At times, he was quick and his dribbling was vintage in its breathlessness.
Hazard did have one moment he may not have been proud of because before he drew two yellow cards, he himself was booked for an accidental but nonetheless nasty foul on Cadiz star defender Carlos Akapo.
Not one to let that moment hang without saying anything after he himself suffered so many injuries, Hazard did something very classy to show support to the injured player.
According to El Partidazo de COPE, the 31-year-old Real Madrid man sent an audio message to Akapo on the Monday after the LaLiga fixture to apologize for the tackle.
Eden Hazard could have said nothing as a professional who made an accidental foul that caused harm, and nobody would have been upset with him for going about his business. Most players do that. But Hazard apologized to someone who is not his compatriot, former teammate, or someone he would seem to know well.
That shows Hazard’s character. Throughout his worst period at Real Madrid, Hazard has never stopped cheering his teammates and supporting the young talent. This call to Akapo to show remorse is the latest example of something football fans have felt for a long, long time. Hazard is one of the easiest players in the league to root for. He is a genuine dude.
So here’s hoping Hazard stays healthy and performs at his peak for an extended period of time. He is certainly trying his best, and a man of his character deserves something positive in his life.
