Real Madrid star Eden Hazard faces yet another set-back as he will undergo surgery to remove the osteosynthesis plate in his right fibula.
Hazard, 31, has failed to live up to his £98million price tag since completing a move to Madrid from Chelsea in 2019, making a mere 65 appearances and struggling to find his best form due to injury problems.
The Belgium international looks set for a spell on the sidelines, expected to be around a month, according to Radio Marca.
His injury will rule him out of a return to Stamford Bridge to face his former club in the Champions League quarter-finals next month.
Hazard will have a plate removed in his right leg, which was implanted after the 31-year-old broke his ankle in March 2020.
A club statement read: 'In the coming days, our player, Eden Hazard, will undergo surgery to remove the osteosynthesis plate in his right fibula.'
Hazard has not featured for the Spanish side since he made a five-minute substitute appearance against Alaves on February 19.
The winger has been an unused substitute in each game since then and sat out the recent El Clasico 4-0 defeat to Barcelona.
Hazard's spell overall at the Berneabu has been nothing short of a disaster, with at least 15 injuries hampering the ex-Chelsea star's progress since arriving in Spain.
He has suffered with a number of muscle injuries, knocks, a hairline crack in his foot, hamstring injuries and abdominal influenza as well as being ruled out with coronavirus.
When he has been fit and available, the 31-year-old has failed to impress, scoring six goals and providing 10 assists for Los Blancos.
Hazard has featured in 22 games this campaign, with only eight starts in the LaLiga, while only scoring one goal and contributed two assists this term.
Yet, Spanish outlet Marca are reporting that Hazard has no intention of leaving the Bernabeu before his contract expires in 2024.
Despite Real's unsuccessful attempts to sell him in the previous two transfer windows, and his lack of game-time under boss Carlo Ancelotti, the former Chelsea man is determined to stay and fight for his place in the team.
Los Blancos however will be keen to try offloading his £240,000-a-week salary to free up wages for new signings this summer.