Saul Niguez believes the stark difference in the Premier League and La Liga is the reason Eden Hazard has not excelled during his time at Real Madrid.
Hazard signed a five-year contract with Los Blancos in the summer of 2019, with the Spanish club paying a fee that could exceed £150million for the Belgian's services.
The former Blues winger, who was undoubtedly one of the strongest attackers in Premier League football during his time in England, has not reached the heights he set on British shores since being at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Saul thinks he knows the reason.
The midfielder, who is currently on a season-long loan at Chelsea from Atletico Madrid, has struggled to make too much of an impression during his time in the Premier League and he thinks the contrasting nature between the English and Spanish top-flight could be the reason for Hazard's downfall.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Saul said: "They are totally different. Over there, it is much more tactical, whereas here it is more physical and a bit crazier.
"There is more back and forth, it is less about having control of the game and more about entertaining the fans. You can do things here that you really cannot do in La Liga.
"For example, I was talking to my friends the other day about Eden Hazard. When he was here, he was easily one of the best players in the world and then he goes to La Liga and has his own difficulties because it's a totally different game.
"Here he had more one-vs-ones and two-vs-ones, but in La Liga, because everyone knows how good his team is and how good he is, other teams make it much more difficult for him.
"Here it is happening a bit in reverse, although I think it is a bit easier to adapt from La Liga to the Premier League than from the Premier League to La Liga."
What has Hazard said?
Even though Saul may be spot on with the difficult transition between the two leagues, injuries have definitely taken their toll on Hazard in Madrid.
Speaking last year, the Belgian said: "I've never doubted my own qualities. I know what I can do on a football pitch, but what I have doubted is getting over all these injuries. I didn’t know whether I’d be at my best. I’ve actually broken my ankle three times and I don’t know if it will ever be the same again.
"It won’t be the same as it was ten years ago when I was starting out, but that’s life. I try not to think about the injury. If I think about it then I will refrain from really getting stuck in. If I start being worried about contact then I shouldn’t be on the pitch should I?"
