The playmaker is trapped in a vicious cycle, in which he needs minutes on the pitch to find his form, but needs form before he gets those minutes

Some Real Madrid supporters enjoyed Eden Hazard’s celebrations during El Clasico, leaping off the bench as Lucas Vazquez netted the second goal against rivals Barcelona last weekend.

Others bemoaned his transition from €140 million (£118.5m/$163m) star to glorified cheerleader.

Carlo Ancelotti is in the latter camp.

The Blancos boss gave Hazard a fair crack of the whip at the start of the season and saw some solid, if not eyebrow-raising performances, but Vinicius Junior has blown the Belgian out of the water.

The Brazilian winger has been electric on the left flank for Madrid and is making good on the immense potential he has. Hazard, meanwhile, has squandered his opportunity at Madrid.

Injuries have plagued the former Chelsea attacker, but he’s not currently hurt, as Ancelotti made painfully clear ahead of Wednesday’s drab goalless draw against Osasuna.

“He is ready to play, but the problem is that there is a coach who prefers another player,” the Italian on Tuesday.

It is a classic vicious cycle. For Hazard, he needs minutes to pick up form. For Ancelotti, Hazard needs form to earn minutes.

Ancelotti brought Hazard off the bench against Osasuna on Wednesday night, but the 30-year-old could not unpick the Basques’ tightly-woven defence.