Year after year, Real Madrid have been trying to get rid of Mariano Diaz.
Given the No. 7 shirt after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus, buying back the striker from Lyon was an even more ill-fated move for the Merengues than CR7’s own decision to take a mis-managed Bianconeri to Champions League glory.
Mariano has actually had his moments, including a backheel assist this past season and a magical goal off the bench in El Clasico in 2019/20 to help lift Los Blancos to a LaLiga title. But by and large, Mariano has not shown the quality required from a Madrid forward despite his unquestioned effort, leading to gaffes that had fans and even players (there’s a video on social media of Marcelo and Isco reacting to him literally whiffing a kick) snickering.
But because Mariano was paid well and had no interest in leaving the biggest club in the world (neither would I, let us be fair here!), Real Madrid were forced to keep him for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. (They didn’t want him in 2019/20 either, but they were willing to let him prove himself for that one campaign.)
Mariano Diaz has told Real Madrid he wants to leave
After weeks of waffling and vague comments from his agent, MARCA’s Jose Felix Diaz finally has something definitive to report on the Mariano Diaz front. The much-maligned but hard-working striker will be leaving his favorite gym in Madrid. He has informed the club of his intention to leave.
That may not be a coincidence in light of reports that Turkish side Fenerbahce, which have the money and have often shown the desire to sign veteran players to the wages they want, is seriously interested in the Dominican and Spanish international.
Mariano is still a good striker for a good-but-not-great team, such as Lyon or Fenerbahce. And if Fenerbahce can meet all or most of his five million euro wages, then this deal could very well happen.
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The important thing is that Mariano finally sees the writing on the wall. This is the best thing he could do for Real Madrid and his own career. He needs to play, he is capable of more, and, most of all, Real need that squad spot for a new striker behind Karim Benzema.