In 2019, when Eden Hazard joined Real Madrid, he was touted as the ideal replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Galactico. Hazard had enjoyed a successful stint at Chelsea, where he established himself as the team’s star player, winning several accolades including two Premier League titles and two Europa League titles. At Real Madrid, he was eager to step up as the main man and add to the team’s already impressive record of Champions League triumphs.
Unfortunately, Hazard’s time at the club has been marred by injuries and poor form, raising questions about the €100 million transfer. Despite being part of Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning team, Hazard only made a limited contribution, appearing in just three games and playing 83 minutes in total.
We take a closer look at the other six players who joined Real Madrid with Hazard in the summer of 2019, to see how they’ve performed and if they’ve had a better experience at the club.
Alphonse Areola
Keylor Navas’ arrival at PSG forced Areola to seek a new opportunity and he landed in Madrid on loan. He remained with the Ligue 1 giants until 2022 when he joined West Ham United on a permanent deal. During his time at PSG, he failed to establish himself as the first-choice keeper and alternated roles with Kevin Trapp and Gianluigi Buffon. In 2019, he was sent on loan to Madrid to provide competition and backup to Thibaut Courtois. Despite making a few appearances in the 2019-20 season, he was unable to impress enough to earn a permanent move. In the following season, he was loaned to Fulham but was unable to help them stay in the top tier. As a result, he became a full-time Hammer but once again, in a secondary role.
Eder Militao
In 2019, a talented young center-back from Porto joined the squad with an estimated transfer fee of €50 million. He was highly regarded as one of the top young center-backs in Europe and was expected to eventually contend for Sergio Ramos’ starting position. However, breaking into the first team proved to be a challenge for the Brazilian defender as he faced tough competition from Ramos and Raphael Varane.
But now, under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, the Brazilian center-back has finally secured his spot in the starting lineup. He has formed a formidable defensive partnership with David Alaba, solidifying the team’s backline. With his impressive performance, the young center-back has proven that he was well worth the investment.
Luka Jovic
Serbian striker Luka Jovic made a big move from Eintracht Frankfurt to Real Madrid, where he was touted as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe. However, despite his potential, Jovic has struggled to live up to the hype and has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent performance. Fans and the player himself have expressed frustration with his inability to recapture the skill and form that made him a sought-after player.
During the 2020-21 season, Jovic was sent back to Frankfurt on loan, but his return was lackluster with only four goals in the Bundesliga. Coaches Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti have not been fans of the forward and have only used him when necessary.
In the summer, Jovic moved to Fiorentina and has scored three goals in 18 Serie A games so far. The question remains if he will ever unlock his full potential and fulfill the promise he once showed.
Ferland Mendy
In the summer of 2021, Real Madrid made a savvy move by bringing in Ferland Mendy from Lyon for a hefty sum of €50 million. The purpose behind this transfer was to provide backup and to find a long-term replacement for Marcelo. It looks like Real Madrid’s plan has worked out exceptionally well as Mendy has not only become the first-choice left-back but also started ahead of Marcelo, including in the prestigious Champions League final. This transfer has turned out to be a smart and successful move for Real Madrid.
Rodrygo
In 2019, Real Madrid made a bold move in securing the signature of young Brazilian winger, Rodrygo. Dubbed as ‘the next Neymar’, the talented footballer was signed from Santos and is currently developing his skills with the Spanish club.
Despite not being a regular in the starting lineup, Real Madrid’s investment in Rodrygo and fellow player, Jovic, shows the club’s commitment to building for the future. Both players are still in their early twenties, and have time on their side to establish themselves as key contributors to the team.
Rodrygo has already made a name for himself with several stunning performances, including a perfect hat-trick against Galatasary in the Champions League in 2019, a winner against Inter Milan in 2020, and a last-minute brace against Manchester City in 2022.
Although the young footballer is still working on his consistency, he has shown flashes of brilliance that indicate his potential as a star player. In addition, Rodrygo’s contribution to Real Madrid’s 14th European Cup title has already justified the club’s investment in him.
Alberto Soro
If you are not a fan of Spanish football, you may not have come across the talented young playmaker, Soro. Despite having a name that sounds similar to the famous sword-wielding hero, Zorro, Soro doesn’t possess any such skills. He was signed by Real Madrid after a standout performance for his childhood club, Real Zaragoza. However, after joining Real, he was loaned back to Zaragoza for the 2019-20 season as his first-team chances would be limited. A year later, without any appearances for Real, Soro signed permanently with Granada and has become a semi-regular player for the club.
