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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Hazard criticises Real Madrid</li><li>Belgian explains why he didn't fit in</li><li>Admits he could have done more</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Eden Hazard firing shots at Real Madrid! Ex-Chelsea man labels Spanish club ‘big-headed’ and explains why he didn’t ‘fit in’ during nightmare spell

LaLiga

Real Madrid

Deportivo Alaves

Hazard joined Los Blancos from Chelsea in 2019 in a deal worth up to £130 million ($164m) but he scored just seven goals in 76 appearances. The former Belgium international, who <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-ae/news/eden-hazard-retires-former-chelsea-real-madrid-star-announces-decision-hang-up-his-boots/bltde709efd31e0f827" target="_blank">retired from football</a> last October at the age of 32, struggled for form and was beset by injuries during his time at Madrid and now he has painted a less than rosy picture about his time there.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The ex-Chelsea star told <a href="https://www.lequipe.fr/France-Football/Article/Eden-hazard-ma-carriere-c-est-un-best-seller/1446026" target="_blank">L'Equipe</a>: "Now it's easy to say. Since I was little I was a fan of [Zinedine] Zidane. The Bernabeu, the white shirt... it has a charm that the others don't have. Madrid is special. Beyond that, I don't think I fit in. It's not like me."It's a bit of a big-headed club, and I'm not like that. I didn't even like the way we played if you compare it with other clubs. But it was my dream. I couldn't finish my career without going there. This shows that Madrid is bigger than anything else. It is difficult to play there. Maybe I needed to train more."I also had the worst injuries at the worst times. The operation... I came back, it hurt, I forced myself. In the second season [Carlo] Ancelotti arrived. I had good preparation, I played well. But my body, the pain, the injuries..."

WHAT EDEN HAZARD SAID

Hazard had a glittering career in the game but he appears to be firing shots at Madrid, including <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-eden-hazard-real-madrid-overweight/bltd08c24d71fe1c8d4" target="_blank">questioning Cristiano Ronaldo's strict fitness regime</a> and claiming he was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/eden-hazard-cristiano-ronaldo-pure-football-lionel-messi-is-the-greatest/blt2e3504070b3744c7" target="_blank">better than the Portuguese star.</a> The winger himself was criticised for arriving overweight at the Spanish side and after taking pelters during his time at Santiago Bernabeu, Hazard is throwing a few jabs of his own.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Hazard, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Chelsea between 2012-19, is settling into retired life whereas Ronaldo, six years his senior, is still playing, currently for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

WHAT NEXT?

Eden Hazard firing shots at Real Madrid! Ex-Chelsea man labels Spanish club ‘big-headed’ and explains why he didn’t ‘fit in’ during nightmare spell | Goal.com US

Eden Hazard has labelled Real Madrid as a &quot;big-headed&quot; club and explained why he didn&apos;t fit in at the Spanish giants.

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