Chelsea great Eden Hazard has opened up on the next chapter of his career after leaving Real Madrid. The 32-year-old only managed seven goals for the club after moving in 2019 for a fee that rose to around £125million.
His tally of four league goals in four seasons sums up his plight perfectly after injuries left the Belgium star stranded on the sideline for much of his final two years. With just 194 minutes of La Liga action last season he decided to cut his five-year deal at Santiago Bernabeu short.
Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde all became preferred options under Carlo Ancelotti and the dribbling demon that the Premier League witnessed in his last season in England was rarely seen in Spain during a torrid spell. With ongoing fitness problems and still time left to go in his career, Hazard has now spoken out over what is to come.
He had been reportedly close to calling it a day shortly after announcing that he would not be remaining at Real Madrid past this season. There were also links during the World Cup in Qatar - his last as a Belgium player after the captain retired from international football - to a move to America and MLS.
This is yet to take any true shape but Hazard is still keen to get back out onto the pitch. "I still feel capable of being a professional footballer, my body can take it," he told Belgium's RTBF. "I've been resting for two or three years, so I still have a bit of energy!"
Hazard missed 78 games through injury during his time in the Spanish capital and was condemned to consistently being ruled out throughout, playing little part in the side that reached the Champions League semi-final in 2021, the winners in 2022 or semi-final again last season.
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"I don't like watching games. It's frustrating as a player, you always want to help," he added. "I still don't know anything [about my future], honestly.
"After three difficult years, I just want to spend time with my family, go on holiday, like anyone else ... I've read a lot of things in the last few days, a lot of nonsense. I still don't know. We'll see."
It comes just days after he penned another emotional message to the Belgium supporters online. "Those years spent under the Reds shirt have been an honour and a huge privilege," he wrote. "Thank you for everything, I love you."
Since Hazard left there has been a great shake-up in the national side with Roberto Martinez leaving after crashing out of the group stages at the World Cup. Hazard's retirement then signalled the end of the great generation of Belgian football which mounted during the 2010s.
They have now been plunged into further turmoil as Real Madrid goalkeeper and former Chelsea No.1, Thibaut Courtois, has reportedly gone AWOL from the camp. He has now failed to report to training duty after the draw with Austria. Courtois played the full game in goal but has been at the centre of a major dispute between himself, new head coach Dominic Tedesco and Romelu Lukaku.
Tedesco said before the international window that the captaincy would be shared between Courtois and Lukaku in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. The account of such a conversation in public from Tedesco is said to have angered Courtois, though.
"Together we decided that Romelu would be captain against Austria and Thibaut tomorrow against Estonia," said Tedesco. "That was OK for everyone but after the match [Courtois] suddenly wanted to talk to me and said he was going home because he was disappointed and felt offended.
"From the beginning I tried to show him the appreciation he deserves. In my eyes he is the best goalkeeper in the world. I love him as a goalkeeper but also as a human being. I am shocked."
It has also been reported that Courtois tore into his teammates after the 1-1 draw, a game in which Lukaku scored the equaliser to save some face for the Red Devils. However, he also took to his website to try and set the record straight. "This afternoon I was surprised to hear the coach's press conference in which he gave a partial and subjective account of a private conversation we had after the match against Austria," he wrote.
"I want to make it clear that it is not the first time or the last time that I talk to a coach about issues related to a locker room, but it is the first time that someone decides to tell it publicly. I am deeply disappointed with this, but I want to make it clear that the coach's assessments do not fit with reality.
"In that conversation I asked him, not for direct benefit, to explain and make decisions to avoid situations that in the past have harmed us while always looking for the general benefit. To be or not to be the national team captain is neither a whim nor a random decision, it should be his decision and that is what I tried to convey to him. Unfortunately I did not achieve my purpose.
"I insist that in no case have I demanded anything and that I have spoken to my teammate Romelu Lukaku to clarify any circumstances related to this situation. At the same time I want to make it clear that I did not have any discussion on any similar subject with any teammate, as has been claimed.
"Furthermore, yesterday afternoon I underwent a check-up for a problem in my right knee. The medical team of my club and the national team were in contact and reviewed all the corresponding material to make the decision to leave the training camp."
It is just yet more controversy surrounding Lukaku, who faces a big question over his own club future. The Chelsea man is set to return to Stamford Bridge ahead of Mauricio Pochettino's decision over what happens next. He spent last year at Inter but struggled for fitness for much of the season.
Reports suggest that he has had an offer from Saudi Arabia to become one of the many new big-name additions but rejected that in a bid to continue his European footballing career. It creates a stumbling block for Chelsea as they attempt to shift their £97.5million man.
