Real Madrid – La Liga Raul Varela gives his opinion

 

Real Madrid have a final against Atalanta and Eden Hazard will be watching from his sofa, perhaps counting the hours until his next ankle operation.

Florentino Perez would do well to have a rethink when it comes to transfers ahead of this summer’s window.

Before going for Erling Haaland, the Real Madrid chief should hire a psychologist to assess the mental fortitude of all incoming players at the Bernabeu.

Hazard is the latest in a long list that includes some impressive names, such as Gareth Bale, Nuri Sahin, Robert Prosinecki, Hamit Altintop, Alvaro Odriozola, Asier Illarramendi, Jonathan Woodgate…

Players of all positions and nationalities, young and experienced, past and current players.

All failed to succeed at Real Madridamid injuries and stress in a case of stage fright under the pressure of pulling on the famous white jersey.

Eden Hazard had scarcely been injured in his career before arriving at the Bernabeu and came billed as a perfect replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, but he has played with fear and has lacked confidence.

Clubs like Real Madrid pull out all the stops to cater for star arrivals and help them settle in, whether its help finding accommodation, schools or, like Fabio Cannavaro, a blender at midnight.

But, nothing can really prepare you for everything that representing Real Madrid means.

Esteban Granero summed it up when he spoke on A Diaro about Haaland.

“I don’t care what Haaland has done in Germany, I care about what he is capable of doing at Real Madrid,” said Granero.