Real Madrid: The pros and cons of letting Lucas Vazquez walk

Pro: Can make space for a young player

Real Madrid need to have a youth movement this summer. It’s a big reason why they are so focused on signing Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe, because either player can lead the attack with loads of goals for years to come. But Real must also inject the rest of the squad with youth and find ways for up-and-coming players to be a part of the squad.

Vazquez is decidedly not a part of the future for Los Blancos. It may be best to move on and save that roster spot for Milan’s Brahim Diaz or Levante’s Jorge de Frutos. The choice depends on which type of player Real value more, but they would have options when it comes to replacing Vazquez with an up-and-coming wide player.

Con: Losing an important character

A youth movement is important to Real Madrid, but you can’t put a price on experience and guts. Lucas Vazquez has been a part of some of Real’s greatest triumphs and bleeds Royal White for this club. Who can forget his trash-talk, never-say-die attitude, or nonchalance in high-stakes penalty shootouts?

Vazquez was one of the players who stepped up big-time in a do-or-die match against Borussia Monchengladbach to close the 2020-2021 Champions League group stage. That single-game performance at right back epitomizes what Vazquez continues to be about, and it is indeed difficult for Real to lose that kind of a character in the squad, no matter how you spin it.