Staff Reporter.
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Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard has apologised for laughing with Chelsea players after his side were knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals.
The former Chelsea man, 30, was seen joking and smiling with his former team-mates at the final whistle.
Hazard said on Instagram it was “not my intention to offend Real Madrid fans”.
He was substituted before full-time after failing to have an impact on the game, which the Spanish giants lost 2-0 as Chelsea progressed 3-1 on aggregate.
Hazard, who left Stamford Bridge in 2019, has received much criticism from Real Madrid fans and the Spanish media, with some calling for him to be transferred.
Hazard helped Chelsea, who will face Manchester City in an all-English Champions League final, to two Premier League and two Europa League trophies.
The Belgian, who has scored only four goals in 40 appearances for Real, said it was “always my dream to play for Real Madrid and I came here to win”.
They are second in La Liga with four games to go, two points behind local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile Real Madrid reportedly fear that Zinedine Zidane could hand in his resignation at the end of the season.
Zidane is currently contracted to Los Blancos until June 2022 but could terminate his contract with the club at the end of the current campaign after growing tired of dealing with events outside of his control.
The report claims the Frenchman is frustrated by the numerous battles he has had to fight this season, which include numerous injury crises, Covid complications and the perception that he and his team have faced constant and unfair criticism by the media.
Los Blancos’ elimination from the UEFA Champions League earlier this season is said to have perpetuated Zidane’s position to the point where he is now seriously considering stepping down from his role at the Santiago Bernabeu for a second time.
The club’s board are believed to be hopeful that they can convince the 48-year-old to see out his contract but it may take a marquee signing to do so, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe the player whose name has been floated around.