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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Ben Hayward

Eden Hazard can win the Ballon d'Or at Real Madrid, insists Belgium coach Roberto Martinez

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has backed Eden Hazard to be a success at Real Madrid after a slow start and says the former Chelsea attacker can win the Ballon d'Or.

Hazard has played just 15 times for Los Blancos since his summer switch from the Blues, scoring only one goal, in a campaign blighted by injury.

The 29-year-old underwent surgery in February after injuring his ankle in only his second game back, but he revealed earlier this week that he is working to be fit for the planned LaLiga restart next month.

"Hazard will succeed," Martinez told Cadena SER. "Sometimes you need a difficult start at your new club to really give everything you have inside and to understand what a club like Real Madrid means.

"Fans can rest easy, because he will mark an era. There are no players like him, he can win the Ballon d'Or."

Martinez also gave a positive update on his star player's state of mind after the difficulties of the last few months.

"He is very happy and content amid the concern that we all have as human beings (because of the coronavirus crisis)," he said.

"He is in a moment of great joy and all the steps he has taken, from a medical point of view, have been taken in great detail. [With the season extended], now it will be better for him."

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