In a recent report, Calciomercato has claimed that Real Madrid have no intention of renewing Lucas Vazquez’s contract with his current deal set to run out at the end of this campaign. It has been revealed that AC Milan are interested in acquiring the Spanish wide player’s services when he gets released by Los Blancos and becomes a free agent next summer (via Calciomercato).
Vazquez’s Season At The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium So Far
Vazquez has been far from prolific in terms of his overall productivity in the final third. He has picked up just two assists in nine matches for the Madrid giants this term across all fronts.
However, the Spaniard deserves credit for affecting the game at both ends of the field as he is averaging 2.0 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 1.0 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in La Liga and the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. The former Espanyol player has also been accurate with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 85.5% in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Vazquez has proven his worth as a valuable squad player under Zinedine Zidane’s stewardship. Still, next summer could be the 29-year-old’s last chance to seal a high-profile move to another top European club as he has only got a handful of years left in him to play at a high level.
What Does The Spanish International Bring To The Table?
Vazquez possesses decent pace and can make some promising runs with the ball down the right flank. He is highly versatile as he is primarily a right-sided winger but can also assume a more restricted role and play as the right-back.
The nine-time Spanish international is often clever with his positioning and usually works his socks off for the benefit of his side. Furthermore, he is an excellent crosser and has got the vision to pick out some decisive passes in the attacking third. However, Vazquez needs to add a few more goals to his game if he intends to win more trophies in the years to come.
Are Los Blancos Making The Right Call By Not Renewing Vazquez’s Contract?
At the moment, the Spanish wing wizard is serving as a valuable sporadic option in Zidane’s match-day squad. Hence, it is quite surprising to see the reigning Spanish champions not put up more of a fight towards retaining his services beyond the end of this season.
At the same time, Zidane is still looking to build his team for long-term success. Hence, Vazquez is not a good fit for him as he is about to turn 30 in July. All in all, the Madrid outfit’s stance is justified but only if they can bring in a suitable replacement for him next summer. Otherwise, they might regret giving Vazquez up for free in the future.
