Can Real Madrid cash in on Mariano Díaz?

One of the positives from Real Madrid’s victory over Elche on Saturday was the performance of Mariano Díaz, with the striker playing for the first time since May. In the absence of Karim Benzema, who had started the previous 22 Real Madrid matches, Mariano stepped up and orchestrated the attack well, even setting up Vinícius’ first goal was a delightful back heel.

Most Real Madrid fans had forgotten about Mariano, so much so that it was expected Luka Jović would be the one to lead the line in Benzema’s absence. Mariano is very much on the fringes of this Real Madrid squad and doesn’t even make the 12-man bench on occasion, but he proved here that he still has something to offer. He showed glimpses of the talent that convinced Real Madrid to buy him back from Lyon for €22m in 2018.

Then, he signed a five-year contract and this means Mariano remains linked to Real Madrid until 2023. The club would love to sell him and cash in on a player who hasn’t been regularly used by any of the coaches to have passed through the Bernabéu dugout, but the problem is Mariano doesn’t want to leave. He has rejected lucrative offers in the past and this summer he remained firm in his desire to stay at the club, despite options to move to Sevilla, Valencia and Rayo Vallecano.

If Real Madrid are to cash in on Mariano, then they’d need to do so in one of the upcoming transfer windows. To avoid losing him for free in 2023, they’d need to sell the striker soon and the sooner the better, given that he is already 28. His value won’t get any higher, even if performances like Saturday’s put him in the shop window again and remind the world of football that he exists.

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Mariano’s Real Madrid salary

For Mariano to leave, even if on loan, the offer would have to be a good one when it comes to wages. Currently, he is earning €5m net per season and this is the main reason why he has been so reluctant to depart the Bernabéu.

An untimely injury for Mariano

Mariano has been happy to collect his pay cheques without playing much football, but you could tell on Saturday that he enjoyed being back out on the pitch. That’s why it’s so unfortunate for him that he broke his nose during a challenge in the final minute of the match.

This will keep him out for the next few matches and, by the time he is available again, Benzema will be back and blocking the path to the line-up. We might not see Mariano again for some time, but Real Madrid will hope that the highlights from his 90 minutes on Saturday can convince potential suitors to make an offer that neither they nor the player can refuse.