Why Manchester United would be better off without Lucas Vazquez

According to Defensa Central (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United have been linked with a surprise move for Lucas Vazquez. The Red Devils want to add another player to provide competition and cover for first-choice right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. It is being said that a transfer fee of £13.7million would be enough to bring him away from Real Madrid given his contract ends at the end of this season.

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Having risen through the ranks at Real Madrid’s youth system, Vasquez, 29, has gone on to enjoy a successful career with Los Blancos. He helped them win several trophies including two La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies. He has done well whenever he was called upon and has been much more than a substitute under Zinedine Zidane.

The Spaniard, however, struggled with injuries last term and could feature in just 18 league games for the La Liga champions. In 218 games for the Blancos, he has scored 24 goals and assisted another 47. He has also appeared for Spain on 9 occasions. With just 7 months left on his contract with the club, the report suggests that he could be on the move.

Manchester United should avoid a move for Lucas Vazquez

While Lucas Vazquez is a handy player to have in a side, he is a classic case of ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’. The Spaniard can put in a shift at right-wing or even at right-back but he is mediocre at best at right wing and maybe sounding a bit harsh, quite bad at right-back.

Every time Vazquez has been asked to cover for the injured Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola, he has fluffed his lines on most occasions. His defensive inadequacies have cost Real Madrid dearly this season and while he is not to blame given he is more suited in the final third, Manchester United need to take note of these issues.

The club is already a defensive mess with only Wan-Bissaka probably their best defender. Now if you use someone like Vazquez who has a natural tendency to attack and leave spaces behind, it’s a surefire recipe for disaster. One also has to keep in mind that Real Madrid have more competent center-backs like Ramos and Varane compared to United’s Maguire and Lindelof.

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It is understandable that United want a more attacking fullback on the right but Vazquez shouldn’t be the one they go for. There are plenty of natural right-backs in the market and they have even been linked to a few. Yes, he looks like a decent option to go for given the transfer fee involved but it is very doubtful as to how he can improve the side or even provide competition for Wan-Bissaka.