Real Madrid need to replace Dani Carvajal, not Lucas Vazquez
Lucas Vazquez is not a right back. Even though he played this position at a very high level for one period in the 2020/21 season under Zinedine Zidane, we know he is not a solution there. He is, however, a very good utility backup who can fulfill multiple roles on the right side of the formation.
Real Madrid’s right back of choice is supposed to be Dani Carvajal, but he is heading into Carlo Ancelotti territory. What do I mean by that? Well, he is someone we admire and respect, and he has given even more to this club than Ancelotti. Yet at the very highest level, he is finished as a starter. He cannot be the main man for Madrid at right back, because it is one thing to get roasted by Kylian Mbappe. It is another to get wiped off the pitch by Ferran Torres. While Torres is a great player in his own right, Carvajal is supposed to also be a great player – and a more experienced one.
Carvajal’s experience still serves him well, and he is not useless to Real Madrid. But he is too injury-prone, too inconsistent, and too slow for Madrid to rely on. He used to be the best big-game right back no matter what, but Madridistas cannot even say that about Carvajal anymore.
It is time for Real Madrid to move on and sign a starting-caliber right back. Bringing back Alvaro Odriozola from Fiorentina is insufficient. Real need to sign a right back who is good enough to start for a Champions League winner. Anything below that standard is malpractice, especially with Kylian Mbappe on his way. Mbappe expects more.