Real Madrid News
Real Madrid flop determined to stay at the club until 2024 – report
Eden Hazard has endured a nightmarish spell at Real Madrid. Having arrived in 2019 from Chelsea in a club-record move, the Belgian was tipped to become the face of the team for years to come.
But a myriad of injury and fitness issues have led to him being ostracized from the first-team setup almost entirely. Indeed, despite being at the club for nearly four years now, Hazard has made only 74 appearances so far, scoring a mere seven goals.
Hazard has played just eight times across all competitions this term and has been on the pitch for just a little over 90 minutes in 2023. It is clear that manager Carlo Ancelotti does not count on him any longer.
Given that he is the highest earner at the club by some distance, Real Madrid are looking to show him the exit doors in the summer. However, according to MARCA (h/t Madrid Zone), Hazard is determined to stay put at the club until 2024, when his contract expires.
It is claimed that the former Belgian international has shown no desire to search for a new club despite his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu and wishes to fulfil his contract at the club.
The former Chelsea superstar has always maintained as much when it came to his future. However, in a past interview, he had insisted that he would consider leaving if the club wanted him out.
“If Real Madrid tells me I need to leave in the summer, I’ll accept it,” he had said in a rare interview just before the World Cup last year.
But, that does not seem to be the case as things stand as Hazard intends to remain at the club for one more year, when his contract runs out.
Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal are making ambitious plans for the summer transfer window. After Al Nassr roped in Cristiano Ronaldo in January, their rivals have been making efforts to bring in superstars from European football.
And, according to the Independent, Al Hilal have grand plans of teaming up Real Madrid captain and icon Karim Benzema with Barcelona legend Lionel Messi at the club.
Benzema’s renewal at Real Madrid was believed to have been tied up until 2024 following his Ballon d’Or triumph.
However, the 35-year-old has a real chance of leaving the Santiago Bernabeu in the coming weeks itself thanks to the lucrative proposal that has arrived from Saudi.
As per the report, Benzema stands a chance to earn a mammoth €100 million per year if he were to accept the offer from Al Hilal, which is he now seriously considering.
What would really be interesting is that fans might get a chance to see Benzema potentially team up with Messi at the club and they would be taking on Ronaldo. However, at this point, deals for Benzema and Messi are not yet closed.
The Real Madrid captain is understood to have asked the club for time to think and could arrive at a decision by the weekend.
In case he does end up making the jump to the Saudi Pro League, Real Madrid will have to dip their toes in the market for a replacement. Names such as Roberto Firmino, Harry Kane, and Victor Osimhen are being talked up as possible candidates.
All in all, an important week awaits Benzema and Real Madrid which could set the course for the club’s transfer plans this summer.
