Pundit claims £130m ‘dominant’ star Newcastle wanted, now ‘average’ after release

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Shaka Hislop has spoken about the downfall of 2023 Newcastle United transfer target Eden Hazard after he was released by Real Madrid.

The former Newcastle United goalkeeper spoke about Eden Hazard once ‘dominating’ the Premier League, but he now looks ‘average’, as he told ESPN.

Back in 2019, after writing his name as a Chelsea and Premier League legend, the ball-carrying expert headed for the exit door and signed for Real Madrid in a £130 million deal (Sky Sports).

Many expected the quick-thinking creator to tear it up in Spain and for a Madrid side that had just dominated Europe like no team had ever done before.

But it went horribly wrong for the now-32-year-old, even then, he was still being linked to Premier League clubs, such as Newcastle as far back as January 2023.

Whatever the reason behind Hazard’s decline, he is no longer the player Premier League fans once saw at Chelsea, as the Toon Army faithful will be glad that they didn’t push for his signature.

“I certainly thought so (Madrid would be a great fit for him),” said Hislop. “I thought, at his best, Eden Hazard, at Chelsea, was the only player in the league who could dominate a game.

“I wanted him to do similarly at Real Madrid – I thought he was of that ilk, maybe not Ronaldo ilk, but certainly up there with the likes of Gareth Bale.

“Hazard had early injuries which made his start and transition a little chequered. He never really recovered.

“Even so, how poor he has been over four years. It’s what seven goals. Nine assists. Again, we are talking about a player that completely bossed the Premier League. To say he looked average is doing what we saw from him, which is a little bit of injustice. He was that bad.”

IS HAZARD STILL GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE?

Yes, the recently-retired Belgian international has left a club at the top of the tree in Madrid, but it has to be questioned whether he is good enough for the Premier League anymore.

Somehow, he only managed seven goals and nine assists during his time in La Liga, added to his injury woes.

Even on a free transfer, most Premier League clubs would shy away from wanting to take him on board.