Could Mariano Diaz be leaving Real Madrid this summer?
By Ben Sundock
President of Olympique Lyon, Jean-Michel Aulas, has told the media that the Ligue 1 side are closing in on signing Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz during this summer’s transfer window.
Real Madrid could be in the midst of a mass striker exitus from the club this summer. With rumors emerging of Alvaro Morata possibly on his way to Manchester United, Karim Benzema tied to Arsenal (as usual), and now with Mariano on the radar of Lyon.
Mariano made a name for himself in very little playing time, playing just 120 minutes in 9 substitute appearances between La Liga and Champions League play. However, in the Copa Del Rey, Diaz made one start and two substitute appearances, scoring 4 goals, including his first career hat-trick at home against Cultural Leonesa.
It’s clear that Mariano is a good way down the depth chart in Madrid, leading many clubs, such as Tottenham, Liverpool, Sevilla, Lyon and Atletico Madrid, to inquire on the possibility of acquiring the 23-year-old goal scorer.
Speaking to French sports website, L’Equipe, Lyon president Aulas, said that this is not a loan deal that is being discussed, rather a purchase. “It’s a transfer. We’re studying both solutions, but we’re looking more at a transfer. We have been following him for some time. We have heard good things from Karim [Benzema]. We also have good allies with the president Florentino Perez, who I know well, and the all-powerful coach [Zinedine Zidane], who has also told us good things.”
Aulas has clearly been doing his research on Mariano, talking to several people within the club about the young prospect, and the French president made it very clear how important this deal is to him and the club, “If we have the means to do it, it’s a priority for OL.”
Despite not receiving tons of playing time, Aulas is not worried about what Mariano can do, going into detail as to why Mariano is the prime target for the team that is likely to lose Alexandre Lacazette this summer: “He has some very high-quality rivals in front of him that we can’t bring to Lyon for economic reasons.”
“According to Zinedine and Karim, he’s a very good player. He’s young, powerful and very ambitious. It would be a great coup.”
Mariano earned his call-up to the Real Madrid first team after pouring in 27 goals in 32 games for Real Madrid Castilla, and the young talent scored an amazing goal against Chelsea in the first pre-season match during the summer of 2016.
If Mariano is to leave, it won’t be the biggest blow for Real who are still in hot pursuit of budding superstar, Kylian Mbappe, who has told the media and the president of his current club, AS Monaco, that he wants a transfer to the Spanish giants.
Next: Diego Llorente leaving Real Madrid for Real Sociedad