Eden Hazard ‘suddenly looked older’ after leaving Chelsea for Real Madrid, says ex-Blue Gus Poyet.

The Belgium international’s stint at the Santiago Bernabeu has been characterized by incessant injuries, thereby limiting his ability to positively and consistently influence the club’s performance.

Poyet told Marca: “It hurts me a lot. The year Cristiano Ronaldo left was the ideal time to replace him, he had had a great season with Chelsea.

“When Hazard arrived in Madrid, he suddenly looked older. I don’t think the style of play is the problem, neither is the mentality, it’s physically.

“He has paid the price for some physical problems that have not allowed him to return and have meant he has not returned to his best conditions.

“One of my maxims as a coach is to put players on the pitch with minimal or no excuses, and I don’t think Hazard has ever been like that.

“There was always some excuse: he was at 60 per cent, the team was not good…

“It’s not Zidane’s fault, the player is depending on himself to face this great challenge of turning it around.”