Lucas Vazquez will be heading back to Real Madrid from Barcelona based Espanyol. The 23-year-old spent the last season on loan at Espanyol with the Catalan side activating the option to buy him permanently. He signed on a four-year deal but Madrid included a buy-back clause, which they have boldly activated.
Deal agreed for Lucas
Los Blancos have now exercised that clause and the winger is returning to the Santiago Bernabeú, but it will be interesting to see what type of player he will be in Rafael Benitez’s plans next season. Espanyol president Joan Collet addressed the Spanish media on Tuesday and had this to say:
"We have reached an agreement with Real Madrid for Lucas Vazquez. We will keep 25% of his sporting rights. Real told us that they were counting on him for the first-team. Two or three weeks ago, we told Real Madrid that we would exercise the right of purchase, but Real Madrid have made us an offer. We believe the amount is good for our club considering that we could have lost him next year, too. We have spoken to our sporting director and we will seek other options in the summer."
After featuring for Real Madrid C and Real Madrid Castilla, the Spaniard winger was sent out on loan to Espanyol, where he contributed to their 10th place finish, scoring four goals and made six assists in 34 appearances last season.
Intense competition for places lie ahead
With intense competition for a spot in the starting eleven, Vazquez will feel he needs to improve his game in order to make a breakthrough there especially with players such Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jesé Rodriguez.
Real Madrid youngster Burgui also has been linked with a move to Espanyol, but Collet stressed those talks were separate and there were "no players involved" in the negotiations for Lucas.