Rafael Benitez made his first signing as a Real Madrid boss after re-signing Lucas Vazquez from Espanyol.
Espanyol bought Vazquez from Real Madrid last season after he failed to break into a star-studded Madrid squad then led by Carlo Ancelotti. Madrid kept an option to buy the 24-year-old winger either this summer or next season, despite Espanyol’s interest to purchase Vazquez’s contract outright from Madrid.
Initially it was reported that both the sides agreed on a fee in the range of €1million, as stated by Espanyol president Joan Collet. He also said that the Catalan club might hold on to 25 percent of the players rights.
This is the first signing for the new Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez and expectedly, he has shown faith in a product of the youth academy in the form of Vazquez. Madrid confirmed the signing on their official website.
“Real Madrid have recovered the rights of Lucas Vazquez within the existing agreement with Espanyol,” a statement reads. “The player is tied to the club for the next five seasons.”
Vazquez spent just a single season with Espanyol in which the Spaniard scored 3 goals and assisted 6 in 33 appearances for his club.
