Real Madrid veteran pens emotional farewell message to Lucas Vazquez – ‘More than just a teammate’ | OneFootball

In a long message last night, Lucas Vazquez confirmed his departure from Real Madrid which, while not official to that point, was always an open secret.

The 34-year-old officially bid goodbye to the club earlier today in a farewell ceremony at the Sports City, in the presence of his family, teammates, and club officials.

The club captain and academy graduate played his final game for the club against PSG where he came off the bench for the final eight minutes. The result did not go Los Blancos’ way but it was an emotional night for the right-back regardless.

Over the years, Vazquez served as an able backup right-back and did well to help the team whenever called upon. As a graduate of La Fabrica, he remains one of the few players in recent years to make it into the first-team and sustain until the fag end of his career.

Carvajal’s parting message

Taking to his Instagram earlier today, Real Madrid veteran and Vazquez’s direct competitor Dani Carvajal bid an emotional farewell to the departing captain with a message that truly captured the special bond the duo shared with each other.

“He’s more than just a teammate. The last teammate of those three Champions in a row, of a stage that marked our lives and the history of Real Madrid, is gone,” started Carvajal.

“Over all these years we have shared much more than trainings and games. We’ve had magical nights, difficult moments, laughter, trips, locker room chats… things that only those of us inside truly understand.”

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Praising the Spaniard, Carvajal added: “The way you compete, your professionalism, the way you are always, through good and bad, says a lot about you.

“Because a team is made when they all go together, and you’ve always wanted to be added. Always. And that, inside the locker room, is valued more than is sometimes said.”

Concluding, the Real Madrid captain stated: “It’s been many years together, and it’s been an honor to share so much with you, Lucas. As a teammate and as a friend.

“I wish you all the luck in the world in whatever comes next. And most of all, thank you Lucas Vazquez.”

Both Carvajal and Vazquez played at right-back for Real Madrid but the former was always seen to be the technically superior of the two Spaniards. Vazquez, thus, spent most of his time at Real Madrid as a direct backup to Carvajal.

Last season, however, Carvajal suffered a gruesome knee injury that required surgery and was thus ruled out for the entire season. He only made his return in the FIFA Club World Cup and it was Vazquez who covered the department through last season.

Now, however, the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold and the return of Carvajal from injury left Vazquez with little to no room to earn minutes and the player thus saw it right to part ways with the club of his dreams immediately.