Real Madrid have confirmed Eden Hazard has suffered a knee injury - as the former Belgium international's difficult spell in the Spanish capital continues.
Hazard, 32, joined Real for an initial £89million in June 2019 after establishing himself as one of the best players in Europe at Chelsea. He scored 110 goals and won six trophies at Stamford Bridge - including two Premier League titles - to become a club legend.
Yet Hazard has struggled to replicate that form at Real, scoring just seven goals in 73 games during his three-and-a-half-year spell. Injuries have hampered the forward's progress and it is believed his current complaint is the 18th of his Real career.
Real confirmed Hazard's latest injury on their website. "After the tests carried out today on Eden Hazard by Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with patellar tendinosis in his left knee and is under observation," read a short statement.
Real have not provided a timeframe for Hazard's recovery. According to the NHS, tendonitis is a 'mild' condition that should improve within three weeks. It is an injury that needs to managed and observed - making it difficult to predict his comeback.
Much was expected of Hazard after his move to Real. During his time at Stamford Bridge, the winger was named as the FWA Footballer of the Year, the Premier League Player of the Season and the PFA Players' Player of the Year - all in 2015.
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Hazard is also a three-time Belgium Player of the Year and a two-time UNFP (France's players' union) Ligue 1 Player of the Year. Furthermore, he was named as the Europa League Player of the Season in 2019 and won the World Cup Silver Ball in 2018.
Despite all these accolades, Hazard has failed to replicate his form in Spain. This season has arguably been his toughest to date, as he has not played in LaLiga since September. Tellingly, he has spent 15 of Real's 20 LaLiga fixtures this term warming the bench.
Having said that, Hazard has won five trophies in Spain - including two LaLiga titles and the Champions League. He retired from international duty in December after Belgium failed to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup in Qatar.
Hazard still has 18 months remaining on his existing deal and confirmed he was not interested in leaving Real during the recent January transfer window. A summer move is a possibility, although the player has suggested he likes living in Madrid.
"In January it is impossible [leaving the club], because I have family and I like the city," Hazard told Marca last November. "But in summer it is possible that I go. I have one more year on my contract and it’s the club’s decision.
"If the club tells me, 'Eden, thanks for four years, but you have to go' - I have to accept it because it’s normal. But I would like to play more, show more that I can play, that I am a good player. If Real Madrid tells me in the summer that I have to leave, I will accept it.”
