Chelsea icon Eden Hazard has had his Real Madrid revival explained via a key 'physical' aspect as Karim Benzema comparison made.
Hazard has had a torrid time since completing his £100million move to Spain from West London in the summer of 2019. Whether it's injury or just personal issues with the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, the Belgian international has not played as big of a role in Los Blancos' recent successes. Whether that be last season's UEFA Champions League win or La Liga success, Hazard, just like Gareth Bale, has been on the periphery and an exit for the pair seemed imminent last season and during the most recent summer transfer window.
Bale joined LA FC in January 2022 whilst Real Madrid's number 7 stayed put amid fleeting interest from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle and Lille, respectively. Patience has paid off, though, in the end for the 31-year-old who has started to get the rub of the green in recent times with more minutes being offered his way by Ancelotti.
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He scored and assisted in the 3-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League group stage opener midweek and, as a result of that performance, started in the latest La Liga clash at home to Mallorca on Sunday afternoon.
This twist in fortune is certainly timely for Roberto Martinez as Belgium prepares for their World Cup campaign, which kicks-off in late November. The Red Devils are placed in Group F with Canada, Croatia and Morocco and will require an in-form Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne to be on their best games if they are to break their World Cup hoodoo finally.
But just how has Hazard turned around his fortunes?
Well, former Newcastle star Didier Domi has made a Karim Benzema comparison to explain this unexpected revival for a star who was starting to wane in the latter part of his playing career.
He told beIN Sport: "He's been there for three years. Then Vinicius Jr improved a lot and became a world-class player. Obviously, every time there is a change. You know, he's not the first choice, so it should always be hard for him.
"He took a physical coach during the holidays because Eden had a tendency to come back with kilos, and he's not like Benzema. And I think he realised that as you age, the body is not the same, you don't recover the same, and I need to take care of my body. He did during the summer, and I hope he comebacks as he is capable."
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