Real Madrid bids farewell to Lucas Vázquez with the Diamond Badge
Real Madrid bid farewell to Lucas Vázquez, captain of the first football team, on Thursday, after a career that spanned 402 matches since 2015, making him the sixth-most decorated player with 23 titles.
The ceremony, held at the Ciutat Esportiva, was attended by club president Florentino Pérez, honorary president José Martínez Pérez, director of football Santiago Solari, and several members of the board of directors, in addition to French players Kylian Mbappé, Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, and former Brazilian star Marcelo.
Pérez said at the ceremony: "You leave us with the admiration, love, and respect of all Madridistas. It is a great honor, and it makes us very proud to have a player like you at the club." He continued: "You joined Real Madrid at the age of 16, and you grew up and developed here, with the academy and reserve teams, with whom you won the Third Division championship and were promoted to the Second Division in 2012. You embodied everything a Real Madrid player should be. You were an example of hard work, sacrifice, determination, commitment, teamwork, humility, and respect." Vázquez, 34, said: "This is one of the most important days of my life. I would like to thank the fans for their constant love and warmth. I have had the honor of winning titles, sharing a dressing room with legends, and experiencing unforgettable nights. I have felt happy, appreciated, respected, and loved. I would like to thank President Florentino Pérez, from the bottom of my heart, for giving me the opportunity to realize my dream. Your confidence in me is what has allowed me to become the player and person I am today."
At the end of the ceremony, Pérez presented Vázquez, who was in attendance with his family, with the club's diamond badge. During his time with the team, Vázquez, who converted from a right winger to a defender, scored 38 goals and provided 73 assists, winning five Champions League titles, five Club World Cups, and four European Super Cups. Domestically, he won four league titles and one Super Cup, in addition to one Copa del Rey title. Internationally, Vázquez represented Spain nine times, his last appearance coming in the 2018 World Cup group stage against Iran.