Will he embarrass Mourinho? Diaz responds to Real Madrid's signings in the best possible way
A trump card
Moroccan star Brahim Diaz has proven he's ready to nail down a starting place in Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid side, backing it up with a strong return to training at Valdebebas at the start of last week.
According to the Spanish newspaper "AS", that return followed a standout World Cup. Diaz shone as one of Morocco's best players, laying on four assists in five matches to finish second on the tournament's list of top playmakers.
The number 21 got back to work the moment the World Cup ended, determined to hit the preparation period in the best possible shape. He duly delivered.
Handed a start at right wing in the first friendly he was available for, Diaz did enough that Mourinho turned to him again just four days later at the Riazor stadium, trusting his sharp physical condition.
The Andalusian repaid that faith with a superb goal, firing Real Madrid to a tenth Teresa Herrera Cup.
Now in his fifth season in a Real Madrid shirt, Diaz faces fierce competition. New signings Diomande and Bernardo Silva have arrived, while the development of the likes of Arda Guler and Endrick, both comfortable on the right wing, leaves the Moroccan needing to fight hard to prove his worth. It's a battle between tactical flexibility and sheer strength in depth.
Last season brought Diaz 1,666 minutes across 42 matches. He wants more, and that's exactly what he's out to prove to Mourinho.
For the Portuguese, Diaz is an extremely valuable asset. He fits the manager's footballing ideas perfectly thanks to his tactical flexibility and his huge capacity for sacrifice, a quality Mourinho rates very highly.
Mourinho uses him as an attacking winger on either flank or through the middle, and leans on him as a playmaker too, a role he filled for spells while Bellingham was out recovering from a shoulder injury.
Diaz refuses to buckle. The Andalusian keeps his edge despite the new arrivals, doubling down on his work and putting in extra effort to fight for the openings that come his way, chances he's determined to seize just as he did in the La Coruna match.
