Eden Hazard might ‘never play football again’ if he goes under the knife for a third ankle operation, a top Spanish doctor has claimed.
The Belgian has been plagued with injuries since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea in a deal worth up to £130million back in 2019.
He is sidelined with another ankle problem at the moment and is understood to want another operation.
But Dr Jose Gonzalez, who works for Real’s rivals Atletico Madrid, warned that a third ankle operation could end Hazard’s career.
He told Ondacero: ‘Hazard has to train with the team for up to 10 training sessions.
‘In my experience it is difficult for him to return to playing at his level with Real Madrid this season.
‘If a player returns after a long injury without having hardly trained, the most normal thing is that he is injured again.
‘He has anxiety, he wants to show that he is worth and wants to give 100% and he is not there for that.
‘A third operation on Eden Hazard’s ankle is very risky, there could be the possibility that the player would not play football again.’
Hazard has reportedly travelled to London to seek a second opinion on the injury.
He only made his latest comeback in Saturday’s 2-1 win against Elche and Zinedine Zidane said he ‘can’t explain’ why the 30-year-old suffered yet another setback.
Real would like to postpone surgery but Belgium are keen for Hazard to have the problem dealt with as soon as possible so he can return to fitness in time the postponed Euro 2020 this summer.
Hazard has started just nine games this season and scored three goals with one assist.
