Martinez: "We won't worry until Hazard stops enjoying football"

Eden Hazard has traveled to Belgium to reconvene with his national team mates ahead of the Red Devils’ World Cup qualifying fixtures against Estonia and Wales.

Amid his struggles at Real Madrid, the national team has been somewhat of a refuge for Hazard, where he feels comfortable and protected from the criticism and doubts that have surrounded him at the Bernabéu.

Ahead of Belgium’s upcoming games, coach Roberto Martinez gave his take on Hazard’s situation in an interview with Belgian outlet HLN.

“It's an unusual situation. We didn't expect it to turn out like this. But that’s football," Martinez said.

“I've seen that he's medically fine. He's completely fit. We have a good relationship with Real Madrid. We know that he does an extra job to keep himself as fit as possible. Eden wants to do everything possible to reach his highest level.”

Martinez: “Hazard can end the season strongly”

The Belgian coach acknowledged the fact that Hazard has played very few minutes in recent games is not positive but he remains optimistic that the Madrid man can still do well for club and country this season.

"This period of international matches is a great opportunity for him to play. It is not an ideal situation. But we won’t worry until Eden stops enjoying football. At the moment, that is not the case. I think he can end the season strongly," he said.

Hazard concerns in Belgium

In the same newspaper, head of football, Stephan Keygnaert, also expressed the concern that exists around Hazard.

“His situation at Real Madrid has become even more desperate since this weekend, let's be honest," wrote Keygnaert in an editorial piece titled 'The wrong player, in the wrong place and at the wrong time'.

Keygnaert’s concerns are also shared by most Belgium fans, who will be worried by the fact that Hazard's participation in recent Madrid games has been minimal.

The 30-year-old winger, who was signed from Chelsea in 2018 to become Madrid’s next Galactico, played just 12 minutes in the club’s last three games: five minutes against Elche, zero minutes against Shakhtar Donetsk and seven minutes against Rayo Vallecano.

It is a critical situation that has prompted rumors that he could be sold in the winter transfer market, although at HLN they believe that he will continue at Madrid until at least next summer.