Eden Hazard in the shop window, but are there any takers?

In 2019, Eden Hazard was at the peak of his powers. He had just inspired Chelsea to a Europa League triumph, netting a personal-best goal return for the Blues of 21 across all competitions and was being placed in a talent bracket alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It came as no surprise when Real Madrid came calling and parted with €100 million in order to take one of the most destructive wingers on the planet to Santiago Bernabeu. Fast forward three years and stock that was once so high has never been so low.

Integral

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/cFLms4myGA

— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) June 13, 2019

Hazard has taken in just 72 appearances for Real across three-and-a-half seasons, finding the target on only seven occasions. A star that had burned so brightly is in serious danger of fizzling out. Redemption, though, could still be on the cards. While he has become something of an afterthought at club level, Hazard remains an integral part of a Belgium squad that is priced at 16/1 in the outright betting on World Cup markets to claim a global crown in Qatar. A so-called Golden Generation may be starting to show a few signs of rust, but they remain a force to be reckoned with. Trust will continue to be shown in Hazard by Roberto Martinez, with the Spanish tactician refusing to give up on an enigmatic talent that remains a match-winner on his day. Such days may have been few and far between of late, but a fuse could be lit at any moment. Hazard will believe that he has still got it in him to illuminate the grandest of sporting stages and is entering a tournament that could prove decisive in any number of ways. Opportunities to claim major honours at international level are starting to pass him and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel by. Dazzle in front of an audience that stretches to several billion, and Hazard will be right back where he wants to be – front and centre. He will also begin to attract the admiring glances that have proved hard to come by during a testing spell in Spain. Hazard has suggested that a change of scenery early in 2023 does not form part of his plans, but that stance could be relaxed quickly if tempting approaches are made and promises of a more prominent role being enjoyed elsewhere are made.

Future

The type of player you never want to take your eyes off of 🇧🇪#FIFAWorldCup | @hazardeden10 pic.twitter.com/fs9ejhkgil

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 19, 2022

He has said on plans for his immediate future: "In January it is impossible, because I have family and I like the city. 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." Real will be open to offers, in January and beyond, with there seemingly acceptance on their part that the time has come to cut collective losses. In any normal season, Hazard would be struggling to drum up interest as he remains out of sight and mind in Madrid. This is not a normal campaign, though, and a window to the world is about to open up.