After more than a decade defending Real Madrid's colors, Lucas Vázquez has left. What should have been an emotional and affectionate farewell from the white locker room ended in a bitter personal disappointment.
Despite his secondary role in recent seasons, Lucas was always an example of commitment, quiet work, and loyalty to the badge. The player expected more. What he received was silence from almost everyone.
The response that never came
Sources close to the Galician footballer say that only two teammates have written to wish him luck after he announced his departure. One of them, Kylian Mbappé, who has only been at the club for a few months.
The Frenchman sent him a private message of gratitude and admiration. It was an unexpected gesture, but highly appreciated. The other, a youth academy player with whom Lucas kept a very close relationship.
He personally attended his farewell, along with Lunin and Marcelo, who interrupted his vacation to share in Lucas Vázquez's goodbye to Real Madrid.
The rest, absolute silence. Neither veterans like Carvajal nor leaders like Modrić or Vinícius have bothered to respond to him.
A locker room colder than ever
This gesture—or the absence of it—has hurt. Lucas leaves with the feeling that the locker room has changed. That family spirit, that united group, no longer exists at Real Madrid.
The new generations arrive with different priorities. The heavyweights seem to live in their own world.
The truth is that Real Madrid is no longer what it used to be on the inside. For someone like Lucas, who gave everything, it hurts.
Mbappé sets an example
Paradoxically, the one who has come out looking best in this whole story has been Mbappé. The Frenchman, newly arrived, has shown more empathy and camaraderie than many who have spent years at the club.
His message has exposed much of the locker room. Not just because of the gesture itself, but because of the contrast with the widespread silence.
An unfair ending
Lucas Vázquez wasn't expecting a party, but he did expect a bit more humanity. More than a decade at the club, multiple titles, and a thousand battles haven't been enough to bring together most of his teammates.
His departure leaves an uncomfortable reflection among Madridists: something has broken in the locker room. If someone like Lucas leaves hurt, the problem is not a minor one.