Leeds United and Wolves have both been linked with Mariano Diaz in recent times and the Real Madrid striker’s agent has now opened the door to a summer switch to the Premier League.
It’s hard to believe Mariano will be 30 years of age later this year.
One wonders, when the dust settles on his career, if the long-serving Los Blancos hitman will regret staying for so long at a club which never appeared to see him as anything more than a ‘break glass for emergency’ sort of player.
In all competitions this season, Mariano has played only 51 minutes of football. That, for the most part, has been the story of his entire Real Madrid career. In fact, when Karim Benzema was struggling with injury a few months ago, it’s telling that Carlo Ancelotti opted to use Rodrygo Goes or Marco Asensio through the middle rather than call upon this most seldom-seen number nines.
At least, with his contract expiring in three months’ time, Real should finally get the La Fabrica graduate off the books this summer.
Could Leeds or Wolves make a move for Real Madrid’s Mariano Diaz?
“It’s not that he’s not happy in Madrid,” Mariano’s agent tells Bolavip. “But his contract is running out. (He should join) a team where you can continue to be happy, regardless of whether you play more or less. There are many circumstances to take into account.”
Even if he is not first-choice at his next club, one suspects Mariano will find minutes far easier to come by. According to AS, former Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui may welcome a reunion at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
90Min reported last year that the one-time Lyon hitman also has admirers at Leeds United. A new centre-forward is likely to be at the forefront of Leeds’ thinking this summer.
“Every three months we have contact with other teams,” Mariano’s agent adds. “In the end he has always been on the market. His profile, characteristics and trajectory are always very appealing.
“We have a chance to go to the Premier League, the Bundesliga, Serie A or other teams.”
Mariano returned for a second spell at Real Madrid six years ago, re-joining in a deal worth £20 million. His best spell came at Lyon in 2017/18. Mariano scored 21 goals that season and, had he not then consigned himself to half a decade on the Bernabeu bench, we may now be talking about Mariano as one of the finest strikers in Europe.
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