A missed appointment. Between Mariano Diaz and Sevilla FC, the love story could have started in the summer of 2018. Author of a great season for Olympique Lyonnais, the Dominican, who scored 21 goals and provided 5 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, had wanted to return to Spain since he was homesick. The former Real Madrid player had caught the eye of Sevilla, who were very interested in his profile. On the verge of engaging with the residents of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, Mariano finally changed his mind when the Merengues came knocking on his door.
Finally united with Seville
Wanted by Julen Lopetegui, the striker returned to Casa Blanca. The Madrid team had a buyout option. But Mariano’s comeback was not a real success. A replacement in the eyes of his various coaches, he spent a lot of time in the infirmary. Asked to leave several times, he did not want to leave the Iberian capital. Last year, he therefore honored his last year of contract. A season during which he played 11 matches in all competitions (0 goals). Free and on the market, he waited before finding a base.
And it was in Seville that he finally settled down. He announced that he wanted to return to the level displayed in Lyon. “Yes, I can find this version. I haven’t had many minutes in recent years but that’s why I come to Seville, to feel like a footballer again and to give the best of myself. I think Sevilla FC is the ideal place to get back to my best level again. As it’s a big club, we play the best competitions and I hope to flourish here. I feel very excited. What I want is to put on the jersey and give everything on the pitch.
A story that starts badly
The Dominican, who failed at OM this summer, is determined, having found his friend Sergio Ramos with whom he played at Real Madrid. “We have already spoken and we come with the same objective, to bite and give the best of ourselves.” But he didn’t really have the chance. Arriving on September 1 in Andalusia, the 30-year-old footballer was physically fit. He had to wait until September 20 to play his first minutes in his new colors. It was against Lens in the Champions League (1-1, 11 minutes played). Injured (tear in the adductor), he spent a week in the infirmary (missing 2 matches). Back on September 29 against Barça (1-0 defeat), he played 16 minutes. A few days later, we learned that he was on the sidelines again.
Suffering from a muscle injury, Mariano is still not training with the Sevillian squad. The staff hoped he would be fit to be in the squad to face Real Madrid this weekend. But A.S. is very pessimistic and assures that he will not find his former club. His new absence is a problem for Diego Alonso, who will only have two attackers against Madrid (Rafa Mir, Youssef En-Nesyri). Not yet decisive with his new club (0 goals, assists and starts), the center forward, who has played 27 minutes since the start of the season, is having a complicated start. A new struggle after several difficult years in Madrid.
