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Danyal Khan

Eden Hazard performs U-turn on Real Madrid future amid Chelsea transfer return possibilities

Eden Hazard's U-turn over his future at Real Madrid is incredible to see.

Initially, his £103million move to the Spanish capital looked like a disaster in the making, with the Blues icon not in favour under Zinedine Zidane. This wasn't helped with the various injury concerns that the 31-year-old suffered within the infancy of his Los Blancos career.

It looked as though the same thing would happen under now manager Carlo Ancelotti. The former Chelsea boss didn't really utilise the winger in 2021/22 as his Real Madrid side did the double of UEFA Champions League and La Liga.

READ MORE: Chelsea must not repeat past transfer mistakes as Thiago Silva grapples with unbeatable opponent

Consequently, rumours of a summer and January departure were strong, with the likes of his former sides in the form of Chelsea and Lille linked to a low-cost loan, while teams like Arsenal and Newcastle were reportedly interested too.

Ultimately, he didn't call it quits on his time in Spain as Gareth Bale was to be the big name departure from the Santiago Bernabeu instead, after the former Tottenham icon moved on to LAFC in the MLS in a bid to gain more regular first-team football with the upcoming Qatar World Cup in mind, where Wales will be involved in the tournament for the first time since 1958.

Hazard, despite constant words ringing in his ear from the Belgium national team manager Roberto Martinez, didn't follow the same path and that patience is slowly being rewarded as Ancelotti is turning to his services with injuries in mind.

Karim Benzema's injury incurred against Celtic in the Champions League allowed Real Madrid's No. 7 time from the bench to try and make a statement, which he did by netting the third goal of the night in Glasgow.

That goal itself has meant that the 31-year-old is now has some opportunities to impress for Real this season, which is better than nothing when you weigh up his contribution last campaign.

Having racked up 160 minutes throughout the early parts of 2022/23, the player in question is happy with his contributions at club level when asked about his feelings after Belgium's 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory over Wales on Thursday evening.

He told local media: "I feel good at Real Madrid, it's just that I don't play. When I play, I play well. I know I can always do more but as I have already said, by taking the rhythm I would again become the Eden Hazard we have already known."

Chelsea fans- Has the ship now fully sailed on a potential Eden Hazard return and how would you feel if he was to return as a coaching assistant in the distant future? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

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