Lucas Vázquez was described as "one of the great legends" at Real Madrid last month in his farewell at the official Real celebrations after the Club World Cup. He played a total of 402 games for Real Madrid collecting 24 trophies in ten years. For the 34-year-old, the move to Bayer 04 represents playing for a club outside his home country for the first time.
Vázquez, born in the small town of Curtis in Galicia in north-western Spain, joined Real Madrid at the age of 16 in 2007. Up to 2010, he progressed through all the youth teams and in the 2010/11 season he played for the third team. A year later he moved up to the second team. With Real Madrid Castilla, Vázquez was promoted to the Segunda División in 2012/20 after two seasons in the third tier of Spanish football. Good performances brought his first call-up to the senior squad. But he did not play on matchdays 30 and 33 in the 2013/14 Primera División season.
The 1.73 metre tall right-footer went out on loan to Espanyol in the following season. He played his first game in the top tier for the Pericos and he quickly became a first choice. He then returned to Real Madrid where he became part of the first team squad and he won the Champions League in his first season back of the club. He played in the final and put away his first shot in the penalty shootout that Real won 5-3 against city rivals Atletico Madrid. Impressive performances in the league secured his debut for Spain in that year and he has nine international caps to date.
The hard-working Spaniard picked up numerous trophies with Real Madrid in the following years and, in the star ensemble of Cristiano Ronaldo and Co., he developed into a quiet but reliable player in the team as well as a fan favourite. The willingness to run, team work and loyalty have always made Vázquez stand out. Originally a winger, he has demonstrated his versatility over the years and has impressed on the right flank both in attack and also as a right-back.
Managing director sport Simon Rolfes said of the reliable Spaniard at the contract signing: "In Lucas Vázquez we have signed an extremely experienced player who has won everything there is to win with Real Madrid over the last ten years. He has great technique, is well-versed in tactics, a brilliant provider and strategist. Lucas will have a great influence on our game with his football finesse and special routine and he will become a key part of our team.”
Vázquez said: "Now I'm looking forward to continuing my career at Bayer Leverkusen. I've heard a lot about the club from Xabi Alonso and my long-standing teammate Dani Carvajal in Madrid. My discussions with the management confirmed what I've been told: Bayer 04 are absolutely focused on winning, are hungry and they are aiming for the biggest targets. That mindset coincides with my ideas and I'm looking forward to striving for more success at Leverkusen.”
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