Real Madrid have confirmed that Eden Hazard will leave the club this summer despite still having 12 months left on his contract. The 32-year-old forward has been heavily linked with an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu for a while now after falling out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti.
An official statement from the Spanish giants reads: "Real Madrid Football Club and Eden Hazard have reached an agreement whereby the player will leave the club as of 30 June 2023. Eden Hazard has been part of our club for four seasons, during which time he has won 8 titles: 1 European Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 LaLiga titles, 1 Copa del Rey and 2 Spanish Super Cups.
"Real Madrid would like to express our affection to Eden Hazard and we wish him and his family the best of luck for the next stage of his career."
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Hazard has suffered various injuries since leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid four-years ago and, as a result, he's struggled to secure a place in the starting-lineup. Even when match fit, the Belgium international has failed to dislodge Vinicius Junior, Marco Asensio or Rodrygo.
In fact, even Federico Valverde, who is typically a box-to-box midfielder, was preferred on the right-wing at times this season. While Hazard may have agreed to cut his spell in the Spanish capital short, he once made it abundantly clear that he had no intent of leaving.
Speaking to RTBF earlier this year, as quoted by AS, the former Chelsea star revealed that he wanted to stay at Real Madrid. Hazard said: "I would like to stay. I have always said it. I hope to play to show that I can still do it. People have doubts, it's normal.
"I understand it really good. But for me, I'm still here next year. You never know, but a transfer is not in the plan. What can make me change my mind? I don't know. All I think about is playing.
"That's why I don't even think about leaving. Deep down, I think: 'I can contribute something. Sorry, that's all. If I contribute a little, people will trust me again. They may tell themselves that they made a mistake in leaving me out. I only need minutes in my legs."
Hazard added: "In the World Cup, I played one game, two games , three games, it was in crescendo. I'm not saying that after three months without playing I'm going to score five goals. No, I need time and at Real Madrid... there is no time. But I know what I can still contribute."
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