Real Madrid Re-sign Mariano Diaz

By Joshua Walters

Real Madrid have confirmed the re-signing of their academy product Mariano Diaz from French side Olympic Lyon.

The European Champions confirmed the news on their website Thursday and said the player's return was a reward for his stunning performance at the French club last season.

The move comes after Real Madrid blocked Mariano from joining fellow Spanish side, Sevilla, by activating a buyback clause they put in the striker's contract to Lyon.

“Mariano Díaz has now come back to Real Madrid. The 25-year-old forward returns to the Whites after a stellar season at Lyon”, confirmed the club’s official website.

The Los Blancos shipped the Spanish-born Dominican striker to Lyon last season after the academy graduate failed to impress at the first team.

Mariano rediscovered his scoring form in France, scoring 21 goals in 45 games in the Ligue 1.

Mariano started his career at Espanyol and moved to Real Madrid from Badalona in 2011.

He progressed through the club’s Under-19 side to the Real Madrid C before moving up the ranks to the Castilla in 2014 to become the top scorer in the Segunda División B by scoring 27 goals in the 2015/16 campaign.

Mariano was part of the Real Madrid side that won the 2016/17 Champions League, LaLiga, the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, and scored five goals in 14 games before his sale to Lyon.

With Cristiano Ronaldo out of the club and the Los Blancos in short of strikers, the Spanish giants believe they can count on the player since he understands the demands of the team, having played there between 2011 and 2017.