Lucas Vazquez signs new three-year Real Madrid contract
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid have confirmed that versatile winger Lucas Vazquez has put pen to paper on a new contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vazquez's previous deal was set to expire in the summer and there was a long period in which it looked like the Spaniard could be leaving the club, after he rejected two extension offers in search of a pay rise.
Real had initially refused to offer him that money, only to later realise that finding someone capable of covering in as many positions as him would almost certainly cost more, so they eventually returned with an improved offer.
It's just been a case of waiting since then, but the deal is finally done and Real took to their official website to confirm that Vazquez has committed to the club until 2024.
A winger by trade, the 29-year-old spent most of last season operating as an emergency right-back, covering for the oft-injured Dani Carvajal and keeping actual defender Alvaro Odriozola on the sidelines.
? @Lucasvazquez91 renews deal until 2024.#RealMadrid | #LucasVázquez2024 pic.twitter.com/vxyFrlOu1M
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) June 3, 2021
Vazquez managed 34 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with two goals and six assists before his campaign was brought to an abrupt end by a nasty cruciate ligament injury in April.
At the time, it was feared that Vazquez had played his final game for the club. The likes of Tottenham, Leeds United and Bayern Munich were touted as suitors for the winger, who made no secret of his desire to extend his stay with Real.
Another month of negotiations eventually yielded a breakthrough in talks, with Real realising that finding someone capable of covering at both ends of the field and willing to sit on the bench would be an expensive challenge.
With Vazquez's future now sorted, the only dilemma left for Real to solve is that of centre-back Sergio Ramos.
The 35-year-old, whose own deal is running out, clashed with the club over their desire to make everyone accept a pay cut as he feared the money would simply be handed over to Kylian Mbappe instead, and now negotiations look to be over.