Real Madrid star Luka Modric has come out to support struggling forward Eden Hazard who endured an injury-riddled first season with the Los Blancos, while also warning him to bring his 100 percent this season.
Hazard struggled to perform in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu. A series of reoccurring injuries prevented the Belgium international from living up to his £100 million price tag.
In 22 appearances across all competitions last season, the 29-year-old only managed one goal and three assists as he failed to make his mark in the Spanish capital.
However, Croatian star Luka Modric believes Hazard is capable of being the superstar that once caught the eye with his dazzling performances in the Premier League with Chelsea, which earned him the Real Madrid move.
He now urges the Belgian to fully recover ahead of the coming season so he could reach his full potential in the 2020/21 campaign while warning that things could get difficult if injuries continue to hold him back.
“Eden is a great guy and a special player, but he was playing with pain and when you’re on the pitch, people always expect the best. They don’t care if you have little problems,” Modric told AFP.
“I spoke to him and said, ‘Eden maybe you need not to play now and recover because next season we need you at your best. This is a season where you’re getting to know everything but next season you need to be 100 percent because if not, it’s going to be difficult’.
“Hopefully he comes back without any problems and then I’m sure he’ll show his potential and why the club bought him because we will need him a lot.”
Modic also commented on want-away forward Gareth Bale, stating that the Wales star needs to decide on what he wants with his future.
“Gareth is a great, great player but his situation is not easy. He always has my support but he needs to decide what is best for him and what he wants to do now with his career,”
Modric added: “It was not an easy season for him but it is what it is. Maybe now he needs to get back to his best…We’ll see what happens with him.”
