Following an exceptional three-year loan at AC Milan, Brahim Diaz has earned a new chance at Real Madrid, says Fabrizio Romano.
According to the Italian transfer guru, the 23-year-old is one step away from signing a new long-term deal at the Santiago Bernabeu.
With his existing contract in Madrid expiring in 2025, Los Blancos were in no rush to negotiate an extension, but Diaz’s eye-catching showings in Serie A have changed their mind.
The diminutive forward is now on the brink of renewing his deal until 2027 and will be unveiled as a new signing at the Bernabeu after returning from holidays next week.
Diaz joined Los Merengues from Manchester City as a prodigious talent in 2019 after failing to land a regular first-team berth in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side.
However, fierce competition for places in Madrid did the Spaniard no favour, forcing his temporary departure only a year later, with Milan offering him an escape route.
And the switch couldn’t have panned out any better as he did not only gather much-needed experience and playing time but proved integral to the Rossoneri’s Serie A title push last season.
His versatility and tactical awareness earned him a status as a permanent first-team fixture in Stefano Pioli’s set-up in 2020/21, with Diaz repaying the manager’s trust with mesmerising performances.
Things improved in 2022/23 as he enjoyed his best-ever professional season, racking up seven goals and seven assists in 45 competitive appearances for Milan.
Impressed with Diaz’s overall on-field contribution and work ethic, Pioli recently revealed his ambition to keep the youngster at the San Siro beyond the summer.
But his calls have seemingly fallen on Madrid’s deaf ears as the La Liga heavyweights opted to terminate his temporary spell in Serie A and bring him back ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Milan have identified Empoli teenage sensation Tommaso Baldanzi as a potential candidate to fill the gaping void after securing another Champions League qualification by the skin of their teeth in 2022/23.
As for Diaz, he’ll stake his claim for a more prominent role in Madrid, particularly in light of Marco Asensio’s impending move to Paris Saint-Germain.
