Real Madrid News
Real Madrid sending out-of-favour forward on loan an option for the summer – report
Eden Hazard is closing in on completing four years at Real Madrid, and it is safe to say that nobody envisioned this is how things would go for the Belgian when he made the move from Chelsea.
From arriving overweight and unfit in the summer of 2019, to picking up one injury after another, the former wing-wizard has never got going at the Santiago Bernabeu. The fact that he has not played a single El Clasico despite being in Madrid for four years is telling.
Hazard has fallen completely out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti this season and has not made a league appearance since way back in September. His last game was in January – a Copa del Rey match against minnows Cacereno.
Given that he is one of the highest earners at the club, Real Madrid are hoping to get rid of Hazard in the summer. Although, finding suitors for him could be an issue, especially considering his steep wages.
So, according to AS, Real Madrid would be open to the option of loaning Hazard out for the next season and paying a part of his salary.
Los Blancos are looking to shed some weight from their wage bill and see the Belgian’s exit, even if it is on loan with them bearing some portion of his salary, as a viable option.
Recently, when quizzed about the future of former Belgium captain, manager Ancelotti appeared non-committal. as he said: “For next year I have the players that the club puts at my disposal.”
However, despite his situation, the former Belgian international, whose contract expires in 2024, is keen on remaining at the Santiago Bernabeu for one more year as he is still hoping to turn things around.
Only time will tell how things develop on this front as Real Madrid look to bring an end to their partnership with Hazard, even as the player pushes for continuity.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho talks Carlos Espi, Diomande, Guler, Tchouameni, Atletico Madrid after Elche 2-3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid found another way to win, but Jose Mourinho was hardly celebrating the manner of it.
Carlos Espi’s injury-time strike completed a 3-2 comeback against Elche, rescuing Madrid after they had surrendered control of a game that appeared to be in their hands.
For Mourinho, the result was welcome, but the performance raised a familiar concern.
“When everything seems easy and you let things slide, it’s dangerous. Then the team reacts and wins, but it’s not pleasant.
“The other good thing is that nobody gets bored with these matches. They’re fun,” he began saying.
Mourinho knows what is going wrong
The Portuguese coach was particularly frustrated by another drop in intensity after the interval.
Real Madrid had opportunities to put the game beyond Elche before allowing their advantage to disappear. Mourinho believes that pattern is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“It seems obvious to me. It’s easy to understand. These are games that are all but over, where we have chances to seal the deal but don’t. After failing to do so, we go from having it easy to losing control.
“If we play poorly from the first minute to the 90th, the concern is huge.
“If we have periods where we’re at our best and others where we’re not proactive, just waiting, lacking intensity… Of course it’s a concern. But we won.”
The win keeps Madrid moving, but Mourinho’s concern is less about the points than the way his team is repeatedly making matches unnecessarily complicated.
Carlos Espi again provided the decisive moment from the bench, although Mourinho knows breaking into the starting XI will be difficult with Mbappé ahead of him.
“He’s a guy who works hard and is very motivated,” Mourinho said.
He then added, “He’s up against a player who’s in a league of his own (Mbappe), and we’re well aware of that.”
Madrid derby comes at a delicate moment
Next up is Atletico Madrid, and Mourinho’s attention is already turning towards the derby.
Rather than focusing on the opposition, he remains concerned about his own side’s ability to manage matches.
“The only explanation I can find is that we can’t keep going like this. We misjudged the opportunities we had, and once they score a goal, everything changes,” explained the Real Madrid coach.
Meanwhile, there were positives to take from individual performances, as Mourinho praised Yan Diomande’s development after another energetic outing.
“He’s improving. Physically, you can tell he has more minutes under his belt. He has a great work ethic and intelligence—he’s done a great job.”
Mourinho refuses to call Guler indispensable
Arda Guler’s importance was also questioned after another fantastic performance, but Mourinho rejected the idea that any player is beyond replacement.
“No, no one is indispensable. We were losing control when I made the substitutions; Vini did a great job on defence, but he was very tired.
“And Arda, who was playing in the number 10 position, was also losing intensity.
“I brought in a fresh Jude and Brahim when we were down 0-2, but I could sense we were losing control. That’s how it goes for us. And then, we brought in the heavy artillery and turned it around.”
Mourinho was also pleased with Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde during Madrid’s strongest spells.
“When the team was playing well, he and Valverde were playing well. They broke through the pressure easily, with skill.
“But the game had two phases—or rather three: one until it was 0–2, another until it was 2–2, and another until the end. They did a good job,” he concluded.
Source: AS
