Real Madrid’s most expensive player, Eden Hazard has suffered another injury setback at the club.
This time around, the Belgian has been ruled out of action with a muscular problem that could see him miss up to a month of action including the first El Clasico of the season.
He had been fit and called up for Madrid’s La Liga match with Real Valladolid on Wednesday night, only to be withdrawn from the squad just hours ahead of the 1-0 win.
“Following tests carried out today on our player, Eden Hazard, by Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his right leg. His recovery will continue to be assessed,” the club said in a statement.
Zidane hopes Hazard is not out for too long
Speaking after the 1-0 win over Real Valladolid last night, Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane is hoping that the Belgian is not out of action for a long time.
“I can’t say how much time [he’ll be out]. He hurt himself in the training session before the game. It’s a muscular injury, it doesn’t have anything to do with the injury he had. It can happen.
“We hope it isn’t too long, I can’t say how long exactly… He’s annoyed because he was fine … He was happy, and then he felt something. These things can happen. He isn’t happy, but he knows it isn’t much. We have to be calm with him,” added Zidane.
Hazard is facing a hard time on the sidelines. This is following his injury record which has come under intense scrutiny in Madrid. The winger, who has played just 22 games so far for the Galacticos since his move from Chelsea in 2019 had a disastrous debut season– which he described as “the worst of my career”.
“He’s obviously a bit sad. I thought he’d looked good in training this week and was looking forward to seeing him play today or on Sunday.
“He looked good to me, he’s been training with his speed, as I know him. It’s a little setback for him but it isn’t his ankle, so for sure after the international break he’ll be back with us,” Real goalkeeper Thibault Courtois said about Hazard after the Valladolid match.
Hazard had arrived at the Bernabeu out of shape, before suffering an ankle fracture against Paris Saint-Germain in November and another which required surgery in Dallas in March of this year, ruling out of action for three months.
On his return to action when La Liga restarted after its three-month suspension amid the coronavirus pandemic, he had an underwhelming performance, ending the 2019-20 campaign with just one league goal in 16 appearances. He has so far scored one goal and assisted three for the Galacticos as well.
He was not part of the squad for their first two matches this season, a 0-0 draw at Real Sociedad and a 3-2 win at Real Betis. Zidane said it was due to a lack of match fitness.
During his seven-year stint at the Stamford Bridge, he made over 250 appearances, scoring 110 goals.
Can Real Madrid recoup the €160m spent on Hazard?
Although there is no transfer specualtion sorrounding him, the talents of Hazard is phenomenal when he is fit.
But his recent injury woes have could be seen as a headache to the Madrid hierarchy as they are yet to get value for their money coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic that has made football clubs to struggle financially.
It is hoped that Hazard will return to action soon and be injury free subsequently to replicate the form that made Madrid pay such a staggering amount for him.
