‘If he wants to leave, he must’: Manager won’t stop £88m reported Newcastle target going

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Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he will not stand in Eden Hazard’s way should the reported Newcastle United target wish to leave Real Madrid for a return to the Premier League, while speaking via Tuttomercatoweb. 

It is hard to think of a big-money transfer that has gone quite as badly as this in recent years – well, apart from Philippe Coutinho’s of course. 

After finally sealing his dream move to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2019, Hazard was expected to take his game to a whole new level on the loftiest of sporting stages; a Champions League winners’ medal here, a Ballon d’Or there. 

Instead, an unrelenting series of injuries have turned a dream move into something of a nightmare for one of the planet’s most naturally talented footballers, with focus turning away from his mind-bending sorcery and onto his fondness for iced buns.

Could Eden Hazard return to the Premier League with Newcastle or Chelsea?

According to ESPN, former employers Chelsea have been ‘alerted to the possibility’ of bringing Hazard back to England, as have a Newcastle side whose Saudi Arabian owners would make Roman Abramovic look like a something of a pauper by comparison. 

“I’ve never forced anyone to stay here. If Hazard wants to leave, he must,” Ancelotti said when discussing the prospect of an £88 million superstar leaving the Spanish capital in 2022.

Hazard has not started a La Liga game since the 2-1 victory at Valencia five weeks ago with former Chelsea coach Ancelotti admitting in midweek that he ‘prefers other players’ in the wide-attacker roles.

The likes of Rodrygo Goes, Marco Asensio and an in-form Vinicius Jr seemingly moving ahead of the Belgian in Real Madrid’s pecking order.

In truth, given that Newcastle’s prospective transfer policy appears to revolve around exciting up-and-coming talent with plenty of room for growth – it is believed they will take a leaf out of RB Leipzig’s book – it is hard to see where a 30-year-old fading superstar comes in.