Real Madrid hoping to pawn off Eden Hazard on Newcastle United — report

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard’s Real Madrid dream has been nothing short of a nightmare, and a seemingly never-ending one, full of injuries, poor performances, and constant criticism from fans and media alike.

Things have reached a new low over the past couple weekends, with Hazard fully fit but unceremoniously dropped to the bench by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who didn’t pull his punches afterwards either.

“The problem [Hazard] has right now is he has a coach who prefers another player. That can happen in a squad like Real Madrid’s.

“What’s important is the player has the motivation to work to play. He is doing that. [He] has to keep fighting. Sometimes it happens, there are moments when the coach prefers others.”

-Carlo Ancelotti; source: ESPN

As Chris Tucker once so eloquently put it, “Daaaaaamn!”

After not featuring at all in El Clasico against Barcelona, Hazard ended up playing 20 minutes off the bench this past weekend against Osasuna, but has made just 5 starts all season, collecting just 1 assist. And while he’s finally reached 50 games for Real Madrid since joining almost two and a half years ago, he has just 5 goals to show for it.

Needless to say, Madrid would surely love to jettison his wages off their books even if they’d only recoup a fraction of their club-record £150m+ outlay, but even the romantic idea of Eden returning to Chelsea is a tough sell, let alone trying to convince other teams to bite.

Real could be in luck however, with newly wealthy Newcastle United possibly on the lookout for a marquee signing as early as January. Could they come to Real’s rescue? As per a report from ESPN, the Magpies are just one of a number of Premier League teams that have been “sounded out” over potential interest.

Speculative, sure. And yet, in a way, it seems a decent possibility and a move that may be a win-win-win for all involved. (And a win for us, too, in keeping out feet firmly planted in the post-Hazard era.)