Víctor Vázquez, 28, will line up as the playmaker in the Brugge side againstManchester United at Old Trafford in Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier.
Vázquez made a sole La Liga appearance for Pep Guardiola’s team in 2008. He had joined his hometown club aged nine but the talents of Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and co forced him to leave for Belgium four years ago. He has made 78 league starts and 21 substitute appearances for Brugge since and last season was his standout campaign. Brugge won the Belgian Cup and came second behind Gent in the league.
Vázquez followed the illustrious names of Enzo Scifo and Vincent Kompany in being voted the country’s finest footballer.
It is because of this success that Vázquez has become restless. He wants a fresh challenge. “I have a contract until June 2017 – this next season and another. But the truth is that I would like a change of scenery,” he told Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish newspaper.
“I think after last season, which was a great year for me, it would be the ideal to change and face new challenges. After four years at Brugge I would really like to try other leagues and see other cultures as a footballer’s life is quite short.
“I am looking for a new adventure and new challenges, hopefully in Europe because there is always a more competitive level. I would not mind going out to another continent, though, and to try a more risky venture.”
Louis van Gaal has been planning how to stymie Vázquez’s talents. “He is very good. He is one of the key players,” he says. “He has very good vision. I like him when I have analysed him. He is the player of the year – and I can imagine how he is the player of the year.”
Vazquez is not a prolific scorer, having managed six goals in 40 appearances last season. He can also be one-paced but is an accomplished passer and can see the game ahead of play which makes him the free spirit in Michel Preud’homme’s functional side.
Of what he hopes to do against United Vázquez says: “As always I like to bring my football, my qualities, my passes, my way of playing and try to score goals because, if we score goals, I think we’re going to have a lot of possibilities to play the group stage.”
What will be a good result at United? “Don’t lose or maybe lose by only one goal but it’s going to be very difficult because we know we are a very small team. We have to play with personality and confidence and we will see what happens. We are doing good and, if we do our football, we can be dangerous.”
Preud’homme’s Brugge line up in a 4-3-3 that has the 38-year-old Timmy Simons as the leader and defensive midfielder and the onus is on Vázquez to be the creator. If they are to have any chance of knocking out a United side in which Van Gaal has invested £230m since he took over 12 months ago, Vázquez may have to light up the tie during the opening leg and next week’s return.
Should United progress as expected, it could be the catalyst for Vázquez to leave before the transfer window closes on 1 September. He has, though, yet to receive an inviting offer.
“Several teams called – from Turkey, Greece, China and Mexico – but so far nothing has interested me enough,” he says. “I’m at a stage in my football life that interests me to compete at a high level but I am also trying to get a rewarding contract and, above all, wish to enjoy football. If I do not enjoy football, I am not happy. I would not go anywhere to make money if I am not happy. Rather it should be that I earn a little less and enjoy what I do.”
If Vázquez can put on a show against United more suitors should follow.
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