3 transfer moves Real Madrid still need to make this summer

2. Departure of Mariano Diaz

Another tale that started off with optimistic expectations and future aspirations but is expected to result in disappointments. Mariano Diaz was acquired from Lyon in August 2018 following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and was immediately assigned to the #7 jersey. The events that followed don’t need to be described.

It’s not that attempts to get find Mariano a new club have not been made in the past; rather, the player appears to have resisted leaving till now, even if it meant sitting on the bench all season. However, the criticism has always been placed on him, even when he is not totally to blame.

Mariano is expected to be aware that other clubs would struggle to match the salary that he is being paid at Real Madrid at the moment, and thus, him not wanting to depart should not come as a major surprise. At the same time though, he does not really have any short of role in this Real Madrid team at the moment and is just spending his time warming the benches at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mild interest was shown by some teams from both inside and outside of Europe, but it led nowhere. The window formally ends on September 1st, and persistent attempts should be made to find him a new club, which appears unlikely for the time being.