Real Madrid: Kroos aims brutal dig at Hazard for "career rest"

The former Chelsea forward struggled to satisfy expectations after a big-money move to Santiago Bernabeu.

Toni Kroos has slammed outgoing Real Madrid star Eden Hazard for his disappointing spell at the club.

Hazard joined the Spanish giants on a €115m deal after his fantastic spell at Chelsea. However, his constant struggle for fitness and form prevented him from even securing a regular starting place at Real Madrid.

The Belgian star finally ends his four-year spell at the club this summer, having made 19 goal contributions in his 76 appearances for the Blancos.

Hazard’s exit coincides with Real Madrid’s €103m move for Jude Bellingham. Speaking about the transfer, Kroos warned the English youngster about the expectations that come with such a fee.

“€103m transfer fee? We now also had someone who came for a lot of money and virtually let his career rest,” he said on his Einfach mal Luppen podcast.

“A lot of money and I think everyone would say in retrospect: That was not such a good transfer. But now let’s start from the positive.”

Bellingham might not be Real Madrid’s only big-money signing this summer. The club are eying a move for Kai Havertz, while the prospects of signing Kylian Mbappe have reappeared after his recent decision to snub a contract extension at Paris Saint-Germain.