Real Madrid: How They Reacted to Eden Hazard’s Early Retirement From Professional Football

• Real Madrid have penned a beautiful message to Eden Hazard
• Hazard announced on Tuesday, October 10, his decision to retire from football
• The ex-Belgian international showcased his talents at clubs like LOSC Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid

Real Madrid have reacted to Eden Hazard's decision to announce his retirement from professional football officially.

The Spanish powerhouse, along with the broader football community, has conveyed its appreciation to Hazard following his announcement to step away from the game at the age of 32.

Hazard utilized the Instagram platform to convey a heartfelt farewell message to the fans, stating, as per the BBC:

"You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer."

His choice, which has sent ripples through the football world, has elicited diverse responses.

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Some fans, particularly those associated with Chelsea, have implied that Los Blancos may have played a role in accelerating his retirement.

Nonetheless, the Madrid-based club has issued an official statement expressing their appreciation for the contributions of the former Lille and Chelsea star, recognizing that persistent injuries hampered his four-year tenure.

"Given the announcement by Eden Hazard about his retirement from football as a professional player, Real Madrid CF wants to show its gratitude and affection to a player who arrived at our club in 2019 and who, during the four seasons he belonged to our team, achieved 8 titles: 1 European Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Leagues, 1 Copa del Rey and 2 Spanish Super Cups.

"Real Madrid wants to wish Eden Hazard and his family the best in this new stage of his life."

Hazard's spell at Real Madrid

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Hazard had initially penned a five-year deal extending until 2024.

However, his time at the Bernabeu was marked by persistent injuries and a decline in form. Over the course of his Real Madrid tenure, he registered seven goals in 76 appearances, with 10 of those occurring in different competitions during the 2022/23 season, per Transfermarkt.

During his stint with the club, Hazard contributed to the acquisition of two La Liga titles, one Champions League title, and one Copa Del Rey trophy.

Real Madrid blamed for Hazard's early retirement

As the news of his retirement spreads rapidly, many fans are critical of Real Madrid, believing they may have prematurely ended what could have been a remarkable career, Sports Brief reported.

Hazard made a high-profile move from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2019 for a transfer fee of £89 million but was plagued by injuries during his time with the Spanish giants, appearing in just 54 league matches over four seasons before departing in the summer.