Bayer Leverkusen have officially completed the signing of veteran right back Lucas Vazquez on a free. Germany’s red company team fulfill their desire for veteran leadership on the right flank with the capture of the 34-year-old. The Bundesliga outfit – after dropping their pursuit of 32-year-old Jonathan Clauss yesterday – were reported to be targeting another “significant name” for an “imminent transfer“.
Vazquez counts as such. Though the veteran is in the twilight of his career, the nine-times-capped international played a significant role for Real Madrid last season. In his decade spent working with Los Blancos, Vazquez captured – among other things – four La Liga and five Champions League titles. Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes was sure to point this out in his club statement.
“In Lucas Vazquez, we are signing an extremely experienced player who has won everything there is to win with Real Madrid over the past ten years,” Rolfes said. “He is technically strong, tactically savvy, an excellent playmaker and strategist. Lucas will have a major influence on our game with his footballing sophistication and will become a mainstay on our team.”
Vazquez will be departing his native country for the first time in his career. During a summer in which (an ongoing) mass exodus of players have followed former Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso out the door, die Werkself have at least gained one major name from Xabi’s new club. Vazquez noted that he received some prodding to head to Germany by both Xabi and a former Leverkusen player.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my career at Bayer Leverkusen,” Vazquez said. “A club that coach Xabi Alonso and my long-time teammate Dani Carvajal told me so much about in Madrid.”
GGFN | Peter Weis
