The former AC Milan loanee is finally starting to reach his potential in the Spanish capital after being shipped out to Italy for three seasons
It was like Jude Bellingham's celebration, only slightly awkward. Brahim Diaz had just made a mockery of the RB Leipzig defence, weaving past three defenders before curling an audacious attempt into the top corner. He careened off in joy, and mimicked Bellingham's signature post-goal pose, standing in front of the traveling Real Madrid support, arms spread, a showman accepting his adulation. Bellingham was missing that night, but Real had their ideal replacement.
When Bellingham doesn't play, Real Madrid should really collapse. After all, a knock to the English midfielder means Los Blancos have to make do without their top scorer, top provider of assists, and most apparent attacking threat. This team doesn't entirely revolve around Bellingham, but it comes pretty close.
It is a concern, then, that the former Borussia Dortmund star is set to miss at least two more weeks after spraining his ankle against Girona. But Madrid have a viable backup in a player who, less than six months ago, didn't seem to have a future at the club. Diaz, part promising loanee, part exile, has returned from a successful spell at AC Milan.
And after spending three years away, the attacking midfielder has finally announced himself to the Santiago Bernabeu – serving as an ideal backup to one of the world's best. Madrid have played six games without Bellingham and Diaz has started all six, scoring four goals and assisting another. Carlo Ancelotti's men have won all of them.
So, Madrid are left with a perfect second option, a match-winner too good to be a backup, yet not so vital that he can crack the starting XI every week. For Diaz, it's the culmination of a four-year journey, one that started with a lauded move to the Spanish capital, and has now reached its conclusion with a top prospect finally starting to realise his potential.
GettyA promising signing for Man City
Man City thought they had landed the next David Silva. A scouting mission to Spain found Diaz, then 16 years old. Had another deal, four years before, gone through, though, Diaz would not have been available at any price. Barcelona reportedly had everything sewn up with Brahim, then 12, in 2011. Diaz had expressed his desire to join the famous La Masia academy. His father had verbally accepted the agreement, having worked in conjunction with the same scout who lured Ansu Fati to Catalonia.
But the Malaga ownership stepped in, made an even more enticing offer to Diaz's father, and kept the playmaker at the club. Since he had not yet turned 16, and was therefore unable to sign a professional contract, the Blaugrana couldn't buy him. Four years later, Man City sorted the agreement that Barca never could.
Diaz's time in Manchester was admittedly mixed. He impressed for City's youth team, playing a vital role for an U23 side that finished second in the youth Premier League. There was scattered talk in the City academy that they had their Silva replacement wrapped up. Still, with the actual Silva still strutting his stuff in Manchester, and Kevin de Bruyne occupying his preferred position, Diaz sought a move. He refused to sign a contract extension, and made it clear that he wanted a fresh start. Madrid were the first to act, securing the 19-year-old's signature for £15 million ($19m)in January 2019 – a good deal for City considering Diaz could leave for nothing the following June.
Despite his immense promise, Diaz made just nine appearances for Pep Guardiola's side, scoring twice and never completing a full 90 minutes.
AdvertisementGettyMadrid, AC Milan and back again
If City's side was difficult to break into, then Madrid's looked impossible. Los Blancos didn't play with a No.10 at the time of Diaz's arrival, while the emergence of Vinicius Jr on the left, and staying power of Luka Modric in the middle meant that the teenager struggled for minutes. He sat on the bench for almost 18 months, making 21 appearances in all competitions, accepting brief cameos and the occasional start in games that didn't matter.
Milan noticed his potential, though, and offered Los Blancos €1 million (£866,000/$1.1m) to bring Brahim in on loan. They wanted a buy option, but Real refused. There was a player in there somewhere. And Diaz showed just how good he could be. One year in Milan became three, the attacking midfielder functioning as the central cog in a fluid, expansive system. Finally, Diaz could operate as a sole No.10.
In his first season at the club, he scored four and assisted three in 15 Serie A starts, leading the Rossoneri to a second-placed finish. His level of performance brought more significant financial commitment out of Milan, who paid €6.5m (£5.6m/$7m) to bring Brahim back – this time on a two-year loan deal. It seemed to benefit all parties. Diaz won Serie A in his second year, making 52 league starts across his second and third seasons. Madrid, for their part, received nearly €8m in loan fees for a player they acquired for just over €15m.
GettyStaking his claim in Spain
A return to Madrid had always been the goal. According to , Los Blancos' board were in constant contact with their loanee during his Italian vacation. His father never moved to Italy. Brahim may have loved Milan, but Madrid never strayed from his mind.
Real affirmed their commitment to him with a lucrative contract extension agreed in February 2023 – while Diaz was still playing for Milan. And this summer he returned to the club, more experienced and well-positioned to fight for a spot in the side. Bellingham's arrival, of course, complicated things, but the departure of Karim Benzema left Ancelotti's squad shallow in attack. At the very least, there remained room for Diaz to be an impactful backup.
And he has seized every possible opportunity. Diaz has scored eight and assisted three in 28 appearances this season. He seems an ideal fit in Ancelotti's diamond formation, operating as either a No.10, or on the right side of the manager's split striker formation. Bellingham, Vinicius, Rodrygo – Diaz has made things happen in conjunction with all of them. His €15m price-tag now looks like a steal.
SKYBellingham's perfect backup?
His main remit, though, has been to replace the player who should be irreplaceable. There is no getting near Bellingham – statistically or otherwise. He is too good, too impactful, and too marketable for anyone to step in for. Diaz has not tried to be the new Bellingham.
Instead, he has offered something different. Diaz is an unpredictable, buzzing presence. He drops between the lines, plays on the half turn, and looks for cute angles and tight spaces. He's not powerful as much as sneaky, slithering away from defenders with a series of feints, dips and darts. His goal against Leipzig was a perfect example.
Diaz only needed less than 10 touches, start to finish. He received the ball near the right sideline, spun around one defender, bounced off another, cut inside a third, and curled a shot into the top corner – all without looking at the goal. It was an instinctive moment of brilliance, a fine footballer creating something out of nothing – and providing the pivotal moment in a hard-fought 1-0 win.
