Real Madrid fans were left furious at Eden Hazard’s reaction to being kicked out of the Champions League on Wednesday night, after the Belgian was caught on camera joking around with his former team-mates moments after the final whistle.

Hazard – who returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his huge £90million transfer to Spain in 2019 – was seen all smiles and laughing with his former colleagues at full-time, which confirmed Madrid's exit at the final hurdle.

It marks something of a breaking point for the forward, who has endured a miserable spell since arriving at the Bernabeu in June 2019, and now both Madrid supporters and the Spanish media appear to be turning on the star - who was supposed to be the leading light for the club carrying on from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fans of the Spanish giants wasted little time in taking to social media to express their frustration at his reaction after the 2-0 loss, which saw Thomas Tuchel's side book their place in the Istanbul final with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Despite Madrid's exit, Hazard seemed in high spirits after the game and was filmed joking and hugging Frenchman Kurt Zouma, who he was known to get along well with during his time in west London.

The Madrid forward also shared an intimate moment with Azpilicueta, and appeared to wish him well for the final in Turkey against Premier League rivals Manchester City.

One fan wrote: 'Eden Hazard just got knocked out of the Champions League and this is his reaction after the game'.

While another added: 'Eden Hazard could genuinely not care less about Real Madrid.'

Spanish daily Marca quickly republished the images of Hazard at full-time online, along with the condemning headline: 'The image of Hazard laughing after the elimination that outrages madridismo.'

Real Madrid fans were not only disappointed by his actions off the pitch, but his performance on the pitch as well.

Having been fit for just 755 minutes of Champions League football this season, fans were hoping the return of the talisman to the squad would be inspired and help their side reach yet another European final.

This is a non-story. He was told a joke probably, and he laughed. Better to focus on the fact that he, like the rest of team, was nonexistent last night. Bale's real madrid in order was much more offensive than this

@expertfootbal11 Problem is that big player of his level should not find joke funny in situation like this, it speak volume to the fact he's not all that affected by the loss. Personally, I know its been hard for him to completely adapt to his new team especially because of his injury but thinking for how much he was brought, the results he has produced since coming, making this kind of reaction on the pitch in front of the camera is just adding oil on the fire.

im 200% with expert, but as a flop transfer he should control his image, he isnt playing in a midtable championship team where fans treat him like a god. most of madrid papers put him on transfer list this season. at madrid they are used to offload huge players...
Robben was offloaded kaka ronaldo schneider and the list is long....

We all knew this would blow up, the air behind it is just hot gas. He played for Chelsea for what, seven seasons? Of course, he will smile a bit when interacting with old friends. Add on that I am sure he has missed them more given his struggles in Madrid for fitness and form.

Life is way too short to be taken so seriously. I think he is still a classy player and I hope he leaves to shine with someone else if Madrid can't appreciate his talents.

That's unacceptable for any player who has lost a game. They should get fined for lacking the winning mentality. Its even worse when you are a big player and your job is based on leading your team to victories and trophies.

@Darth He could have waited the dressing room, or the tunnel if he cant wait to laugh and joke...if he was MOTM and still lost the case would have been smaller, he was horrendous and on top of that doesnt feel sad for the loss...

life is too short to be taken seriously, if you have a low salary job, if you earn millions and you made loose money to your boss, i dont think your boss will ask you to take it easy if you feel relax about it....

well i know Spain really well, and Madrid, i knew at this moment he ***ed up lol.

Personally, I would have waited or not been as "festive" with the interactions. I have played against former teams and win or lose, there is a time and place for everything.

My "life's too short" comment stems from me being older and have seen/done stupid things. You live, you learn, and hopefully, he does learn from this. The hate from fans is overdramatic as they are just looking for any reason to blame a player, a coach, the weather for the loss. Hazard was "missing" in that match, but he was not the only one playing but NOT playing. People love scapegoats because it's easy.

Now, I say that from the American point of view. While I love Footy with a passion, I know how the rest of the world views the game. Perhaps my perspective is also that we don't live and breathe the sport here. I played the game as much as I could, day, night, anywhere, but it was not so popular here and thus I did not feel the deeper love/hate for players, clubs.

I also did not grow up loving just one team, so roots were never planted. My direct competition was Mexican being from a border city in Texas. TV did not show many Euro matches, and since Mexico was a big rival, I never cared much for any Mexican teams either.

My long-winded point is, as I played more, got older, saw the world, I learned how Footy is truly king globally, but I did not grow up with the love-hate relationship a player or team did to many others.

Thing that is worth a mention though is that recently, Hazard took it upon itself to excuse himself for his behaviour. Doesn't excuse it completely but thats clearly better than some player who would try to ignore the whole controversy.

Yep in Europe when you wear a historical club shirt, you have responsibility and behaviour to respect. I'm 100% sure many players after elemination doesn't get affected that much go home and chill.. but football is more than a sport in Madrid. A season without a trophy in Madrid is a crisis, they are all ultras there is no soft fanbase in Bernabéu reason why it's ferce in clasicos and derby...
You have fans who pay high ticket prices and shirts every year go to training to encourage dream about the game you cannot come wear the shirt, do nothing in the game and laugh with ex teammates, not at Madrid...

The particularity of Madrid's is that it works by socios system, fans own the club, they show no mercy to president, get results or get out, same for players..

I understand your point, US sports are purely entertainement, in Spain politics, tourism, city image, everything is directly linked to the football club... They saw a big disrespect for the shirt, hazard saw what happened to bale when he said I prefer golf to football, it's really different from US I get your point I don't blame him I just predicted this drama, he costed 100 mil had been injured for months, did an horrible game, he was going to be in trouble anyway, but what he did almost killed his chances to stay another season in a club who whistled Ronaldo in his prime....

@tiki True, I mean, if your given number 7 in Real Madrid, then obviously there gonna be certain comparison. Not all player will be demolished by a defeat but those that are hungry for winning and worked hard to get there would be expected to be.

Not saying Hazard work less hard or doesn't want to win as much of his teammate for sure but he certainly doesn't give that image and considering how little he affected Real Madrid since his arrival despite his huge fee, it feel like the fans aren't especially patient and willing to forgive that kind of mishap easily. I just think a player like Hazard should thread carefully considering his situation.

@tiki: absolutely true.

I'm a bit easy on this, but Hazard's action was unacceptable, especially to loyal fans and especially when he has been a HUGE FLOP, collecting fat paycheck with minimum contribution.

On the other hand, he manned up and accepted his mistake. Good timing too.

I hope he learns, but he will go down as one of the biggest robbery in football transfer

Personally, I'm done with Hazard, maybe it's because Perez is such an idiot, or Zidane simply doesn't know how to integrate new people into the club; he can only coach the ones he inherited, idk, but at the end results are not there. We have a trophyless season in our hands, when we could have won 2 with more consistency.

Expertfootball11 You still have the chance to win La Liga, so there is a trophy. It's not Champions League but it would be something.

To everyone's point, I agree, and I forget just how born you all are to the game. I wish it was that big here, and perhaps someday, it might be, but until then, I will enjoy what I can get.

You still have the chance to win La Liga, so there is a trophy. It's not Champions League but it would be something.

Yeah but not thanks to Hazard. XD

I forget just how born you all are to the game.

Well... I'm north americain and only started getting into football into 2015 soooo yeah... wouldn't say I was born into it. I think its definetly something that fans will remark more and be nitpicky more about.

I mean, none of Hazard team-mate came out and said he had been unprofesional there so I'm guessing its more an emotionl thing. Its the feeling of the fan who were expecting something more out of Hazard I think.

Maybe we've been spoiled by the reaction of player like Ronaldo and Messi who are so serious about the game who cannot muster much of a smile after a defeat. Especially in CL.

It's great to be here with everyone, I have a lot of knowledge from what you share, to say thanks, the information and knowledge here helps me a lot.

Really ridiculous .....