Paolo Maldini has held talks with Lucas Vazquez’s camp as the AC Milan director looks to beat Everton, Leeds United and co to the Real Madrid winger, as reported by Calciomercato.
Vazquez may not be the most glitzy or glamorous member of Zinedine Zidane’s squad – but perhaps that’s the point.
After all, it was Zidane who coined that famous expression when Real sold the dependable Claude Makelele and replaced him with uber-Galactico David Beckham in the early 2000s.
“Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you’re losing the entire engine?” Zidane mused.
Clearly, the Blancos star-turned-coach understands the importance of water-carriers, those players willing to go about their business with minimal fuss and maximum effort while leaving the headline-hogging to more iconic teammates.
And, during the past six years, Vazquez has become the epitome of the ‘Zidanes y Pavones’ approach at the Santiago Bernabeu – quiet, unassuming but hugely important and impressively adaptable.
Whether at right-back or further forward, the three-time Champions League winner has produced seven-out-of-ten performances throughout the season, keeping Sadio Mane quiet on Thursday night at Valdebebas.
But, with his contract expiring in July and a cost-cutting Real side unwilling to match his £85,000-a-week demands, Vazquez looks set to leave this summer in typically understated fashion.
Not that this most underrated of players is flying under the radar of clubs searching for an experienced all-rounder.
According to Deportes, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United and Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton have both made offers for the 29-year-old.
In Italy, Rossoneri legend Maldini has held talks in his role as technical director with Vazquez’s representatives regarding a potential switch to Serie A. Milan are only willing to offer £66,000 a week, however, about £1 million a year less than the amount Vazquez is demanding.
The ball, then, is in Leeds’ and Everton’s court.
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