Real Madrid have confirmed that attacker Eden Hazard is set to spend another spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The 32-year-old has endured an injury-riddled time in Spain since joining Madrid back in June 2019 and has featured in just seven matches so far this season, playing a combined 296 minutes for Carlo Ancelotti's men.
A separate injury to Hazard's ankle has hindered the ex-Chelsea man at the start of 2023 - sidelining him for the Copa del Rey victory over local rivals Atletico Madrid - but it is now an issue with his left knee which has put his availability for the coming weeks in doubt.
The Madrid club released a brief statement on Saturday which explained that the Belgium international has been diagnosed with patellar tendinosis in his left knee after undergoing tests with the club's medical team.
"After the tests carried out today on Eden Hazard by Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with patellar tendinosis in his left knee and is under observation," read the statement on the club's official website.
Hazard was consequently omitted from the Real Madrid squad which travelled and lost to Real Mallorca on Sunday afternoon, the club's first loss since the Super Cup defeat against Barcelona in the middle of January.
With Ancelotti's side set to fly to Morocco this week to begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Egyptian outfit Al Ahly, there is currently no timescale for Hazard's return to first-team action.
Carter White
