Hazard explains how Madrid told Mariano to give up No.7 shirt for him

Eden Hazard claims Mariano Diaz was instructed to vacate the No.7 shirt for him upon his arrival at Real Madrid over the summer.

During an interview with Sport/Foot magazine, Hazard explained how Mariano was told he had to give up his No.7 shirt for him when he touched down in the Spanish capital.

“At first it was from Mariano. I didn’t want to go ask him. It’s not my style. I knew that 10 was Modric,” he said.

“At Chelsea, I took the 17. Lucas Vázquez has it. I was free to have 16 but I didn’t want to.

“I said: ‘Give me 50’. And the club told Mariano: ‘You have to give Eden the 7’ – you can’t go higher than 25 in La Liga.”