Carlo Ancelotti confirms Eden Hazard will be at Real Madrid next season | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Eden Hazard will be in the club’s plans next season.

The Belgium international joined Los Blancos from Chelsea in 2019 in a blockbuster £103 million deal. He has since struggled to establish himself amid multiple injuries.

He has made just 60 appearances for the club but recently showed his class, netting a late extra-time winner against Elche in the last 16 of the Copa Del Rey.

Los Blancos are scheduled to face Elche again in La Liga on Sunday afternoon. Ahead of the game, Ancelotti confirmed that Hazard could make the starting line-up.

He said: “Tomorrow is a good day to play Hazard from the start, and I hope it’s a good game for him.”

Meanwhile, when pressed on his future with Madrid, Ancelotti insisted that the former Blues star will stay with the club beyond this summer’s transfer window.

He added: “Hazard is in our plans for the next season, I can confirm.”

Football Today verdict:

Hazard was a terrific match-winner at Chelsea. He had seven glorious years with the club, bagging 110 goals and 92 assists from 352 games across all competitions.

The Belgian left with the good wishes of the west London giants, but things have since gone pear-shaped for him with injuries. He has spent over 450 days on the sidelines.

This has led to speculation that the 31-year-old could be sold on a cut-price deal such that the club can get him off their wage bill ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Ancelotti has now refuted any exit rumours on Hazard. The attacker has been a regular on the bench, but his match-winning strike against Elche could be a turning point.

With Marco Asensio still nursing a muscle injury, Hazard is set to earn his first start in five games. He has the chance to cement a starting role with regular goal contributions.

His ability with the ball at his feet has never been in doubt. However, injuries have ravaged the last few years of his career. He needs to stay unscathed to recapture his Midas touch.