Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard has been undergoing a grueling run of form of late, having failed to make his mark in the Spanish capital. The former Chelsea talisman was brought in from Stamford Bridge for a whopping €115m in the summer of 2019, to replace then-Juventus marksman Cristiano Ronaldo, but has since gone under the radar with his inconsistent form due to fitness issues and injuries.
Real Madrid have long tried to get rid of Hazard but have so far been unsuccessful. However, an opening has emerged for Juventus to lure the 31-year-old Belgian forward, as reported by Calciomercato.it.
Club president Florentino Perez expects a sale to be made for a transfer price around the €40m mark, however, even that sounds high for Hazard at the moment, given the unpredictability and inconsistency of his performances.
He has managed to score just one goal and provide two assists in 19 outings this campaign i.e. in 856 minutes of game time – statistics that don’t do justice for a player who once was mentioned in the same breath alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Another reason Madrid want to relieve him from the squad is because of his stature as the highest earning member of the Los Blancos squad, raking in a staggering €15m net per season, on a four-year deal that only expires in June 2024.
Juventus remain strong contenders to potentially lure the Belgian to Turin, taking into consideration the disparate situation between the Bianconeri and Paulo Dybala.
A loan option could also be on the cards. Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United are also reportedly keeping close tabs on the ex-Lille winger’s situation in Madrid.