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Ancelotti: Hazard is staying at Real Madrid

Helios de la Rubia / Real Madrid / Getty

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says there are no plans for the club to cut its losses on Eden Hazard following his three injury-hit seasons.

The attacker moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Chelsea for €100 million in the summer of 2019. However, after barely missing any game time due to injury at his former side, Hazard's suffered a series of ankle and muscle problems at Real Madrid.

Hazard, whose contract runs until June 2024, has remained sidelined since March after having a plate removed from his right fibula. In his absence, Los Blancos have won La Liga and reached the Champions League final.

"His plan is quite clear. He stays," Ancelotti said during Saturday's press conference, according to ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez. "He has a lot of motivation because he hasn't had a good time these last few years, and he wants to show all of his quality, which for many reasons he hasn't been able to do."

Hazard was seen participating in Friday's training session as Real Madrid prepare to face relegation-threatened Cadiz on Sunday. The fleet-footed Belgian is part of the squad traveling to Andalusia for that match.

The 31-year-old has made 17 La Liga appearances this season, 10 of which were as a substitute. Vinicius Junior has firmly established himself as the first-choice left-sided attacker in Hazard's absence with 17 goals and 10 assists through 34 league outings.

Hazard has four goals and six assists over almost three years in La Liga. Despite his struggles and Kylian Mbappe's expected summer arrival, Ancelotti insists Hazard will have a role to play next term.

"With a squad at the level of Real Madrid, you play a lot of games," Ancelotti said. "There's tiredness and we'll rotate, even if we haven't much this year. With a more complete squad, you can rotate more, and everyone can have their chance.

"I think the quantity of minutes isn't so important, it's about the quality," he added. "We have a clear example, which is Rodrygo - he hasn't played a lot of minutes, but he's played with great quality and made the difference."

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