Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ‘impressed’ by loanee’s displays, future dependent on Asensio, Hazard
According to AS, Real Madrid have been left heavily impressed by the performances of Brahim Diaz, who is currently on loan at AC Milan. However, the Spaniard’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu will depend on how things evolve with Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard.
Real Madrid signed Brahim Diaz from Manchester City in January 2019 in a deal worth €17 million. However, the young attacking midfielder did not get a regular run in the Spanish capital club and has been continuously farmed out on loan.
Indeed, Diaz spent the 2020/21 campaign out on loan at Milan before returning to San Siro again last year, this time on a two-season deal.
Reports suggested that the loan agreement came with a €22 million permanent purchase option for the Rossoneri, while also allowing Real Madrid to re-sign Diaz for €27 million.
However, as per AS, there is no such clause in the agreement and Diaz is likely to be back at Real Madrid when the ongoing season is over.
It further suggests that the Merengues have been left very impressed by what they have seen from the Spanish playmaker in Italy thus far.
Diaz has accumulated valuable experience during his time with Milan, racking up close to 100 appearances in which he has 15 goals and nine assists. The 23-year-old played a key role in the Rossoneri’s Serie A triumph last season and has continued in the same vein of form this term too.
So far in 2022/23, Diaz has four goals and an assist from 13 Serie A matches, with the ex-Manchester City ace keeping Charles De Ketelaere on the bench.
There had been reports claiming that AC Milan want to sign him permanently, but it is now being said that Diaz is expected to be back at Real Madrid when the current season is over.
However, his long-term future at the Santiago Bernabeu could be tied with that of Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard.
As things stand, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde are key in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup. As for Hazard and Asensio, their futures are far from certain. The former is no longer a big part of the plans while the latter’s contract is about to expire in the summer.
Should either or both end up departing, Diaz could find a spot in Ancelotti’s plans for the next season at Real Madrid. The 23-year-old could also fill a spot in midfield where there is still uncertainty about Toni Kroos’ future.
In what could be a real deal breaker for Real Madrid ahead of their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg clash against Barcelona, it has been revealed that as many as three Barça will be absent from the game while another key player remains a major doubt.
The list includes the likes of Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Andreas Christensen. The trio is certain to miss the game through respective injuries while a certain Frenkie de Jong is more or less ruled out, as per Javi Miguel.
It must be remembered that Barcelona are heading into the second leg with a 1-0 advantage. But the absence of the aforementioned players means Madrid can work on exploiting the frailties.
Despite the absence of such big names, Barcelona did pretty well against Elche in their previous outing, coming out 4-0 victorious, with the goals coming from Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
With options lacking in midfield, Xavi decided to use the likes of Sergi Roberto and Eric Garcia along with Gavi in the heart of the lineup. In any way, they do have Sergio Busquets and Franck Kessie as backups if needed.
The defence, on the other hand, was perfectly guarded by Jordi Alba, Marcos Alonso, Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde.
One can expect Xavi to once again interchange Araujo with Kounde on the right since the Uruguayan has been rather successful in minimizing the threat of Vinicius Jr.
As far as Madrid are concerned, they are sweating over the fitness of three key defenders, namely, Antonio Rudiger, Nacho, and Ferland Mendy. Between these three, the Frenchman is out for about a month while Rudiger and Nacho are expected to be back before the Clasico.
If there are no casualties against Real Valladolid, Madrid will have a perfect midfield and attack, with only Mariano Diaz missing.
