Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has run the rule over the future of Belgian star Eden Hazard at the Santiago Bernabeu.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the Italian headmaster distanced the Spanish giants from any rumors linking the former Chelsea and LOSC Lille star with a move away from the Spanish capital this month; “Hazard is in our plans for the next season, I can confirm.”

Carlo Ancelotti speaks out over Eden Hazard’s Real Madrid future

Eden Hazard of Real Madrid during La Liga match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium{ in Madrid, Spain. {iptcmonthname} 28, 2019. (Photo by A. Ware/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Links with a Premier League return for Hazard began to crop up as early as late October after it was suggested that Chelsea and Newcastle were lining up a potential escape route for the 116-times capped De Rode Duivels icon with some reporting that Chelsea oligarch Roman Abramovich would spearhead his return personally.

But with Ancelotti seeming firm in his statement regarding the immediate future of the 31-year-old, the question now becomes what role does the iconic Italian manager envision for the native of La Louvière.

Hazard enjoys his finest moment in a Real Madrid shirt

If a future at Real Madrid seems to be on the cards for Eden Hazard, then he must surely be on cloud nine in the wake of Carlo Ancelotti’s comments which have come on the back of his most influential display in a Real Madrid shirt since his move from Stamford Bridge back in 2019 for a whopping ~£100million.

There is no suggestion that Hazard’s move to Los Blancos has come off well; it hasn’t. He has been a mere shadow of the player who had the world at his feet when he was in Chelsea blue, but perhaps he has now repaid just a little bit back to the fanbase after his substitute appearance for Madrid in their comeback win against Elche in the Copa del Rey.

Coming on in the 91stminute in extra time, Madrid went 1-0 down against the minnows in the 103r-minute through Gonzalo Verdú before Isco restored level terms five minutes later. Hazard then pounced to find the matchwinner just two minutes from the whistle, sending the Spanish giants into the quarterfinals of the competition.

It may have only been his sixth goal in 60-appearances from the Belgian, but it certainly carried the most significance.