Mariano Nazario. Arrived at Real Madrid at the age of 18, Mariano Diaz was quickly nicknamed so in reference to the Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Like R9, the striker who was trained in the Barcelona area quickly showed his finishing qualities. First with the C team of the merengue club with which he scored 32 goals in 43 official matches between 2012 and 2014. Then he was sent to Castilla. Again, the player born in 93 found the net since he scored 48 goals in 46 games in all competitions from 2014 to 2016.
Mariano turned down all offers
His efficiency in front of goal but also his other qualities caught the eye of Zinedine Zidane, coach of the capital’s flag team. And on August 27, 2016, the French technician threw him into the deep end by offering him 14 minutes of play against Celta Vigo. A first in La Liga where he remained silent. On the other hand, he scored his first professional goal a month later in the Copa del Rey match against Cultural Leonesa. But in the end, Mariano will not be able to convince Zizou during this season (14 appearances, 5 goals and 2 assists), which will push him to join OL.
There, the center-forward chained matches and goals (21 goals and 5 assists in 45 games). Happy on the meadow, Mariano is less so outside. The country misses him. Courted by Sevilla, he finally made his return to Real Madrid where Julen Lopetegui wanted him as KB9 understudy. But the Spanish technician did not stay long and the Spanish-Dominican striker will take his place on the bench, regardless of the coach in place. Invited to leave at each transfer window, Mariano stays and refuses offers one after the other. This summer, Fenerbahçe tried it by offering him a contract with a salary of 5 million euros net per season.
A fresh start in 2023
But he still said no. Then he started to change his mind and asked his management to release him to find a new interesting base more easily, his contract ending in 2023. Categorical refusal of the Merengues who did not wish to give any gift to a player who has been a drag more than anything else. He will therefore go to the end of his lease, he who thought he had a little more playing time after the departure of Luka Jovic at Fiorentina this summer. Last year, the Serb was used 549 minutes against 392 for Mariano. But he quickly became disillusioned.
Carlo Ancelotti has only used it once and only once this season. It was September 14 against Leipzig in the Champions League. He only played 6 minutes in total. It’s far too little for the 29-year-old, who aspired to better. Especially since with Karim Benzema injured and absent for several meetings (4 in total), he could have had playing time. Ancelotti preferred to call on other players, in particular Eden Hazard or Rodrygo. A new snub for Mariano, who has only played 1,767 minutes in total since his return in 2018 (7 goals, 1 assist in 60 games). The end of the story seems near between Madrid and Mariano Diaz, who has not been spared by injuries. A fresh start will do him the greatest good. It remains to know where?
