Chelsea are in line to receive a £5 million bonus from Real Madrid as a result of a clause in Eden Hazard’s transfer deal from five years ago, despite the fact that Hazard retired from professional football in October 2021. Hazard moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2019 for a deal worth around £130 million with additional add-ons. However, last June, Hazard and Real mutually agreed to terminate his contract early. Even though Hazard is no longer playing football, bonuses based on his original contract still apply until the end of his term, which was set to expire this summer. Real Madrid reaching the Champions League final triggered Chelsea’s bonus payment, as they will face Borussia Dortmund in an attempt to win the competition for the 15th time.
Chelsea’s deal to sell Hazard to Real Madrid has been considered a smart piece of business, with the initial payment of £88 million increasing with achievable bonuses based on performance. Although Hazard struggled during his time in Spain, playing just 54 games over four years and winning the Champions League in 2022 as an unused substitute in the final against Liverpool, Chelsea can still claim to have gotten the best years of his influential career. Hazard announced his retirement from professional football in an emotional social media post, thanking his clubs, managers, teammates, family, and fans for their support throughout his career. He expressed gratitude for the experiences and successes he had on different pitches around the world and looked forward to spending time with loved ones and exploring new opportunities off the field.
In other sports news, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are preparing to face off in a highly anticipated boxing bout on May 18, with both fighters vying to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. The match will see the two boxers competing for the prestigious WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, underscoring the significance of the event in boxing history. The stakes are high as both Fury and Usyk aim to solidify their legacies in the sport with a victory. This showdown represents a rare opportunity for boxing fans to witness the crowning of a unified heavyweight champion, a title that has eluded fighters for over two decades.
Chelsea’s financial windfall from Hazard’s transfer to Real Madrid highlights the intricate nature of football contracts and the long-term implications they can have on clubs even after a player’s departure. The bonus payment triggered by Real Madrid’s success underscores the interconnectedness of different clubs’ performance and financial incentives in modern football. Meanwhile, in boxing, the upcoming match between Fury and Usyk symbolizes the pursuit of greatness and historical significance in the sport, as both fighters seek to etch their names in the annals of boxing history. The convergence of financial rewards, sporting achievements, and personal legacies in football and boxing reflects the multifaceted nature of professional sports and the enduring impact they can have on individuals and organizations alike.
