Real Madrid seal deal to bring Lucas Vazquez back from Espanyol

It's now official: Lucas Vazquez will return to Real Madrid. The Gallician winger heads back to the club that he arrived at Espanyol from on loan. At midday on Thursday, Real Madrid and Espanyol confirmed the deal had been completed. 

Rafa Benitez is the reason there has been a change of mind at Los Blancos, with the Spanish coach personally requesting Lucas be brought back just days after Espanyol had announced they would activate the option they had to sign him. However, that has not happened, with Madrid paying one million euros to take the 23-year-old back to the Bernabeu. 

Real Madrid have recovered the federative rights of the player, according to Espanyol's website, "within a new agreement with the Blanquiazul." Lucas Vazquez is now linked to Madrid for the next five seasons. 

In his first season in the Primera Division, Lucas Vazquez played 39 games for Espanyol, scoring four goals. Espanyol have thanked him for his "dedication and behaviour during his stay at the club" and wished him "success in the future."