5 Worst Real Madrid Signings in History As Eden Hazard Sets for Santiago Bernabeu Exit

5 Worst Real Madrid Signings in History As Eden Hazard Sets for Santiago Bernabeu Exit

Babajide Orevba
updated at June 8, 2023 at 7:07 AM
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  • Eden Hazard has been branded as Real Madrid's worst signing after the Belgian capitulated at the Santiago Bernabeu
  • The Belgian international had joined the club in a deal worth around €120million, but he flopped practically
  • Many had also thought James Rodriguez would become a legend at the club, but that did not happen

Spanish giants Real Madrid have confirmed that their €120million signing Eden Hazard would depart the club at the end of June following an agreement to rescind his contract one year early.

In 2019, the playmaker left London club Chelsea and then signed a staggering 5-year deal with the La Liga outfit.

Hazard had been tipped to take after the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in La Liga, but his move was plagued by injuries, and his career with Los Blancos was a flop.

Eden Hazard, Real Madrid, Transfer, La Liga
Eden Hazard's career at Real Madrid was plagued by injuries. Photo: Florencia Tan Jun
Source: Getty Images

Here we look at 6 worst Real Madrid signings:

5. Danillo - €31.5m from FC Porto

Real Madrid spent a staggering €31.5million euros to land the full-back from Portuguese outfit FC Porto in 2015, but he was never able to establish himself in the team fully.

In his three years at the Bernabeu, the Brazilian managed just 41 league appearances and scored just three goals.

He later blamed the Spanish media for criticisms during his time with the club. He said via GOAL:

"An error, no matter how small, goes viral. A mistake becomes very great even if it is small. But, of course, when you do something good, it is also very great."

4. Javier Saviola – Free from Barcelona

Saviola failed to replicate his Barcelona form when he joined Real Madrid. The Argentine moved to the Spanish capital in 2007 on a free transfer.

During his two seasons with Madrid, most of his 17 league appearances came off the bench before he left for Benfica in 2009.

3. James Rodriguez - €80m from Monaco

James Rodriguez never established himself at Real Madrid as he had hoped, but what went wrong? After winning the 2013/2014 UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid were in the market for a big signing.

Florentino Perez was keen to strengthen again and make Los Blancos the best around, so he paid €80 million for James Rodriguez.

His transfer was inevitable at the time, and he did well in his first season, scoring 17 goals for the Galactico.

However, the appointment of Zinedine Zidane as manager of the club in 2016 saw the practical end of James Rodrigues with the Spanish club.

The Colombian rarely featured under the Frenchman. After a couple of years on loan at Bayern Munich and a dire final season in which he made just eight appearances, the €80m (£68m/$86m) signing left for nothing.

2. Luka Jovic - €60m from Eintracht Frankfurt

Many had tipped the Serbian to become a world-class star in Madrid after joining the Spanish giants from Eintracht Frankfurt under Zinedine Zidane at the start of the 2019/20 season.

The striker came in with a huge wealth of experience, having bagged 27 goals for his previous club, Football Espana reports.

However, too much expectation was a burden for Jovic, as his form and confidence suffered, with just three La Liga goals in three seasons.

1. Eden Hazard - €120m from Chelsea

Real Madrid vested so much interest in the Belgian and did everything possible to land the star at the Bernabeu.

His career was plagued by injuries, and he was just a shadow of himself with Los Blancos.

Hazard leaves the Spanish club having scored just seven goals in 76 appearances, and following the price paid, it is considered that he is Madrid's worst signing.

Chukwueze on Real Madrid's radar

Sports Brief earlier reported that Samuel Chukwueze’s brilliance in La Liga has not gone unnoticed by the big teams in Spain, with Real Madrid reportedly calling for the winger’s signature this summer.

The Nigerian forward caught the attention of the decision-makers after he netted twice to help his Villarreal side defeat Real Madrid 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in April.

The Spanish giants are said to have approached Villarreal to inquire about the Nigerian winger’s availability this summer, although his current deal with the Yellow Submarines does not expire until 2024.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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