Real Madrid set to offer Vinicius Junior number 7 jersey as Hazard struggles to do it justice
Real Madrid has a rich history of legendary players who have worn the number 7 jersey. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Amancio, Raymond Kopa, Juanito, and Emilio Butragueno are some of the names that come to mind immediately when talking about the club’s iconic number 7 shirt. It is considered a heavy shirt to wear, and unfortunately, despite having all the talent in the world, Eden Hazard has not been able to do it justice.
Hazard, who had already established himself as a Premier League legend at Chelsea, made a big move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019. It was a Galactico signing, to say the least, as the club broke their transfer record to bring the Belgian to Santiago Bernabeu. And it made complete sense for Real Madrid to hand him the number 7 jersey, as he was expected to be the face of the team moving forward.
However, things have not gone according to plan for Hazard. Real Madrid’s move for him has proven to be a mistake, and he barely comes off the bench these days. In fact, Hazard’s last appearance in the league came back in September, and he is expected to depart in the summer.
On the other hand, Real Madrid seems to have already made plans for the number 7 jersey. According to a tweet by Bruno Andrade, the club will offer a shirt number change to Vinicius Junior next season. The Brazilian has established himself as a superstar at Real Madrid over the past couple of years and even scored the Champions League winner last season against Liverpool. It would make sense for the club to hand him a more commercially successful shirt number like 7 or 11.
As for Hazard, it remains to be seen what the future holds for him. While he is expected to leave, he still has a year left on his contract, and it may not be simple to find him a new club. Real Madrid fans would certainly hope that he can find his form once again and show the world why he was considered one of the best players in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Marco Asensio continues to play a role in the team, even if he is not a starter. His contract runs out in the summer, and it remains to be seen if he is handed a new one. With the club seemingly moving on from Hazard and looking to give the number 7 jersey to Vinicius Junior, it will be interesting to see how Real Madrid’s squad evolves in the coming months.