They told me not to go — Hazard reveals why he left Real Madrid

Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard has provided more insight into his decision to leave Real Madrid, revealing that his teammates did not agree with his choice, as they wanted him to stay. 

The former Belgium international spoke honestly about his time at Madrid, admitting that he did not contribute much in the four years he spent there. He said his sparse activity contributed to the decision, prompting him to leave with money on the table. 

“The players didn’t want me to leave Real Madrid,” he said, per Madridxtra. “I had another year in my contract, but I gave it up out of respect for the club because I stayed for 4 years and didn’t contribute much.

“I told them that I will waive the rest of the money in my contract. Even mentally, I told myself that I had to do any positive action for them.”

The 34-year-old joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in the summer of 2019 for a €120 million transfer fee. He signed a five-year deal and became one of the top earners at the club. 

However, he struggled with injuries during his time at the club, managing only 76 goals in three years at the club, in which he scored seven goals and provided 12 assists. 

When he was not out injured, he was either struggling to impact the game on the pitch or on the bench, looking overweight. He left the club in the summer of 2023, having won two LALIGA titles and the Champions League. 

He had one year left on his contract but decided to leave. He was without a club for a few months after leaving Real Madrid, rejecting offers from some suitors. He retired from football shortly after.