MADRID – Eden Hazard is virtually ruled out for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League between Real Madrid and Atalanta on 24 February after suffering a new injury during training on Wednesday. The Belgian has a muscle injury in his left anterior rectum and, according to ESPN, will be out for at least four weeks.
“Following tests performed today on our player Eden Hazard by the Real Madrid Medical Services he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left anterior rectum. Pending evolution,” Real Madrid announced on its website.
The first alarms went off on Tuesday when Hazard was absent from the training session. The Belgian returned to training on Wednesday but noticed some discomfort in the final stretch of the session and medical tests confirmed that he suffered a muscle injury in his left anterior rectum.
Sources close to the Belgian admit to ESPN that Hazard is “mentally ill”. However, the former Chelsea man has only been able to play 13 games this season and has already suffered a 9am injury since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu a year and a half ago as a star signing, plus the period off because of the coronavirus.
In principle, the Belgian international is expected to lose the League matches against Huesca, Getafe, Valencia and Valladolid. In addition, his presence against Atalanta in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League is almost ruled out.
In fact, sources close to the coaching staff are slipping on ESPN that, if they confirm the initial deadlines and given how difficult it is to pick up pace, hopes are placed more in which he can play the return match against the Italians that will be played on March 16 at the Bernabeu. Thus, the only good news for the day for Zidane is the recovery of Sergio Ramos for the match against Huesca.