Real Madrid: The best part about the Lucas Vazquez renewal

It’s official. After a couple of days since reports first surfaced, Real Madrid have signed Lucas Vazquez to an extension through the 2023-2024 season, meaning the versatile right-sided wide man will remain in the Spanish capital for at least three more seasons.

The renewal means that Real have successfully re-signed two of their three free agents this summer. Luka Modric is staying in midfield and is one of the world’s best, while Vazquez will return as an important piece of the puzzle at right back. Sergio Ramos’ future remains uncertain, but, for now, Madridistas can rejoice that one potentially important part of the defense won’t be going anywhere.

There was a point in time when it seemed like Vazquez would leave Real Madrid. An impasse occurred, because Vazquez wanted a raise from his three million euro salary, while Los Blancos were trying to get everyone to take a 10 percent paycut during the pandemic.

Vazquez wasn’t being greedy in asking for a raise, though. He was playing better than any right back in LaLiga, having stepped up at the position when world-class fullback Dani Carvajal suffered an injury. A long-time Madridista, Vazquez knew he would get better offers from other clubs, so he wanted to be compensated more by Real for doing a LOT more work. And it’s also true that he improved even on the right wing, compared to a poor 2019-2020 season.

At the end of the day, Lucas Vazquez only had Real Madrid in mind

Real Madrid, thankfully, saw the light, budging from their hard-line stance. Perhaps interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and PSG made Los Blancos reconsider. But perhaps it was seeing how much worse the team was without Vazquez’s chance-creation (only Toni Kroos had more key passes per game) and non-stop running that made Florentino Perez change his mind.

Whatever the case, Madridistas are elated to see the “cult hero” back in the fold for another three more years. As he is 29, the Galician will be a part of the Royal White for the remaining best years of his career.

There’s so much to love about this deal, but what I love the most is both the compromise and the statement Vazquez made in re-signing. Because Vazquez DID have better offers on the table, per Jose Luis Sanchez. Even though Real Madrid did give him a raise, that raise won’t even kick in until after the 2021-2022 season. Because Vazquez agreed to take that 10 percent paycut for the first year of his deal.

That’s what I love. Vazquez didn’t just reject rivals Atletico Madrid earlier this year. He rejected EVERYONE, regardless of the role they offered or the money involved. For Vazquez, the request for more money was about respect for his role, rather than anything related to greed. Because Real Madrid is HIS club. We know how much he bleeds for this team and this fanbase. We see it on the pitch every time he plays.

Vazquez showed that Madridismo once more by taking this deal, paycut and all, and ensuring he’ll keep playing for Los Blancos through his most productive seasons. As for Real Madrid, they did well to give Vazquez the security of these additional years at a salary befitting of his improved performances in 2020-2021. Now that the deal is done, let’s see what Vazquez can do next season as an encore.