{
  "id": 10378618,
  "title": "Zinedine Zidane speaks about Real Madrid’s €150 million flop: ‘Sadly he had physical setbacks’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/zinedine-zidane-speaks-about-real-madrids-150-million-flop-sadly-he",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-28T06:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/zinedine-zidane-speaks-real-madrid-060000211.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has shared his thoughts on the club's €150 million transfer of Eden Hazard. Zidane, speaking to the media, admitted that the Belgian star's physical setbacks were the main reason behind the player's failure to live up to the expectations. Despite the initial hype surrounding Hazard's arrival, Zidane acknowledged that the injuries and poor fitness significantly hindered the player's performance at Real Madrid. The two-time world player of the year under the tutelage of Zidane at Chelsea struggled to replicate that form in Spain, ultimately leading to his departure after two more disappointing seasons under Carlo Ancelotti. Zidane, who has remained close friends with Hazard, expressed his fond memories of the player, both as a player and as an individual.",
  "summary": "Real Madrid’s period under Zinedine Zidane was golden in both the stints when the club legend arrived as a first-team manager, but his second stint was more impressive given the squad he had at his ...",
  "key_points": [
    "Zinedine Zidane criticized Eden Hazard's physical setbacks.",
    "Hazard's performance declined due to injuries and poor fitness.",
    "Zidane had fond memories of Hazard as a player and friend."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Liverpool have chance to steal 'fantastic' star from Real Madrid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/liverpool-have-chance-to-steal-fantastic-star-from-real-madrid",
        "published": "2026-09-28T06:40:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}