The tension at a medical level between Real Madrid and the Belgian Federation grows again in the middle of this Euro 2020, moved to the summer of 2021. Eden Hazard completed the 90 minutes of the match against Finland, with a very discreet level and leaving an image for concern: suffered a blow to the left ankle (the one that has suffered several operations is the right one) before the break That made them fear the worst, but he was able to leave for the second half and completed the duel.
Days ago, in the concentration of Belgium, the journalists who cover the information of the Red Devils asked about the physical state multiplayer. For example, Axel Witsel, on whom physiotherapists Lieven Maesschalck and Geert Declercq reported without problems; when it was time to ask questions about Hazard, they were silent for an answer: “You have to ask Eden.” This is how the journalist Peter T’Kint tells it in Sport Foot Magazine.
Relations between Belgium in Madrid have been irregular for a long time and this course went completely wrong when, in March, the Federation pressed for Hazard to go through the operating room to retouch the titanium plate that he has on his right ankle, the which they believed was the source of all the physical problems he suffered during the 2020-21 academic year. Madrid, for its part, preferred a conservative treatment and more physical preparation. In the background, the root of the debate was underlying: if he operated, he would not play with Madrid again that year, but he would reach the European Championship. Finally, Madrid’s vision prevailed and Belgium reduced the rhetoric around the issue, using Roberto Martínez as a spokesperson to calm the waters.
Distrust between Madrid and Belgium
But the distrust between both entities exists, it is bidirectional: Madrid has blocked Lieven MaesschalckHazard’s trusted physio for years, treated the player during his injuries in Antwerp, to the point that Maesschalck prefers not to answer questions about the Real Madrid player in order not to fan the fire; and in Belgium they rely on the bad year of injuries that Madrid has suffered (more than 60, COVID apart), for which the club blamed Grégory Dupont for the most part, Zidane’s physical trainer, but who has also left a mark on Niko Mihic, head of the club’s medical services. From Belgium, they point out, Mihic is “little specialized and has little inclination to listen to those who are.”
In this context, Real Madrid is still waiting to see how Hazard returns to the next white preseason, expecting him to be in good shape (the previous two came overweight) and with the intention of reversing his first two courses at Madrid, very disappointing. Everything that is to do a brilliant Eurocup will be celebrated in Madrid as a success that can give you confidence for the future, but above all it is that it arrives in one piece.