Footage centering on two members of Spanish champions’ Real Madrid’s squad has piqued widespread attentions on Friday evening.
The players in question? Antonio Rudiger and Eden Hazard.
Amid the ongoing efforts of Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff to prep for the new campaign, Real’s stars, earlier today, were put through their paces once more in pre-season training.
One particular drill, in turn, saw close control tested, as a circle of players were tasked with keeping possession away from their defensive counterparts.
At one point during the activity, however, an altogether needless challenge left the aforementioned Hazard grounded, and in evident pain.
This came upon the Belgian receiving possession, only for Antonio Rudiger to (presumably accidentally) go in over the top of the ball, before connecting hard with the left ankle of his attacking teammate.
Eden Hazard during the La Liga match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain 28, 2019. (Photo by A. Ware/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hazard, from here, immediately clutched at his foot, as understandable concern spread for a player who has struggled for fitness throughout his time in the Spanish capital.
The former Chelsea man, it is understood, was in turn forced into a premature departure from the session, ahead of undergoing medical scans on his ankle.
Not only that, but Hazard is now viewed as an early doubt to feature in Real Madrid’s next pre-season outing, when Los Merengues will go head to head with arch rivals Barcelona in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Eden Hazard is at risk of missing Real Madrid’s upcoming friendly against Barcelona after being tackled by Antonio Rüdiger in a training session.pic.twitter.com/qhVoOebDDs
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) July 22, 2022
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