Mariano Diaz is refusing to leave La Liga giants Real Madrid despite being offered the chance to kick-start his career in the Premier League with Newcastle United, as reported by Marca.
The departure of Zinedine Zidane – and the subsequent return of Carlo Ancelotti – means fresh starts and clean slates are the order of the day at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Forgotten men Gareth Bale, Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard, Isco and Luka Jovic all hope to make up for lost time at the 13-time European Champions after being frozen out of the first-team picture by Zidane, a coach who certainly had his favourites.
And the same goes for Diaz, a striker who has started just eight La Liga matches since returning to Madrid three years ago in a £20 million deal from Lyon.
Will Mariano Diaz snub Newcastle to stay at Real Madrid?
Last week, Jeunes Footeaux reported the La Fabrica graduate had been offered the chance to swap Santiago Bernabeu for St James’ Park, with Newcastle a potential destination for a man who has never come close to taking Karim Benzema’s place in the Los Blancos XI.
Now, Callum Wilson is a gifted number nine in his own right but not in the same league as Real’s fabulous Frenchman.
Perennial benchwarmer Mariano would surely find regular game time easier to come by at Newcastle than he has at Real Madrid.
Be that as it may, the Catalan-born 28-year-old isn’t going to give up on his Madrid dreams just yet. According to Marca, Mariano is “refusing” to consider offers from elsewhere, determined to win over Ancelotti.
As a result, Real Madrid will step up their attempts to find a buyer for Luka Jovic instead.
And so continues a frustrating summer for Newcastle fans. Steve Bruce has yet to complete a single signing so far. The Toon have been priced out of deals for the likes of Kristoffer Ajer and Jens Cajuste as that long-awaited takeover starts to look increasingly like a pipe dream.
Joe Willock’s return from Arsenal would, at least, ease some of the exasperation.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
