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Unless Eden Hazard (31) keeps his leg up and does not want to leave Real Madrid, he will play at another club next season. He fits into a plan that the Spanish top club unfolded internally to pay Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Ludo Vandewalle
Eden Hazard’s move to Real Madrid has been a failure for three seasons. First a series of injuries, but even after that it didn’t click. After being on the bench for five weeks without getting off, he has now had surgery again, which means he will hardly get to play this season. In recent days it has become clear why Real Madrid have now allowed the surgery to remove the plate in his right ankle, while the same procedure was refused by the club a year ago. The club management wants the Belgian to be fit to start the next season at another club.
Real Madrid would prefer to sell the 116-time international. But there is a realization that this will become impossible at a reasonable price. The Spaniards bought Hazard in 2019 for 115 million euros. After three troubled years, he is still worth a maximum of 25 percent of that. The website Transfermarkt estimates his value at barely 16 million euros.
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Feeling good in Madrid
The Madrilenians are realists and therefore want to lend Hazard at a rental price with purchase option. Including an agreement to have the salary – which varies from 15 to 25 million euros per year depending on the source – is fully or partially paid by the rental club. It is quietly hoped for Newcastle United, where very wealthy Saudis have recently taken over. However, the question is whether Hazard is happy to exchange sunny Madrid, where his four children (with a fifth on the way) feel good, for the rainy northern England.
These goals with Hazard fit into a larger plan by Real Madrid to meet and pay Kylian Mbappe (23) and Erling Haaland (21). Mbappe will be transfer-free at PSG after this season and would earn 50 million euros per year. In Madrid, they are not concerned about the statements made by Mbappe, who said on Monday that he may still remain in Paris. Under his contract with Borussia Dortmund, Haaland may cost a maximum of 75 million euros in transfer money. So, in se, ‘bargains’ for the top clubs, but money has to be made in its place.
Increase transfer value
That is why Real Madrid will not renew the contracts of Gareth Bale (32) and Isco (29). They are transfer-free after this season. Madrid is already getting rid of their high wages, which are close to Hazard’s. Midfielder Daniel Ceballos (25) will be at the end of his contract in 2023 and there will be the Royal still have transfer money for catching and at least get rid of his wages.
Eden Hazard’s contract runs until 2024. That is why Real Madrid wants to loan the Red Devil to recharge their batteries, so that after one season at another club he will have increased his transfer value again. Madrid is counting on him to cooperate because next season the World Cup will take place in November-December and he still has a lot of match rhythm to gain. Something that will become almost impossible at Real Madrid after the arrival of Mbappe and possibly Haaland.
