Brahim Diaz risks being squeezed out of Real Madrid’s star-studded attack

Brahim Diaz is preparing to begin another season at Real Madrid facing a familiar challenge: fierce competition, limited guarantees and the need to fight for every minute on the pitch. This time, however, the task appears more difficult than ever.

Real Madrid’s already crowded attack has become even stronger this summer with the return of Brazilian forward Endrick, the arrival of highly rated Spanish prospect Carlos Espi and the club’s €125m investment in Yan Diomande. That fee has made the Ivorian the most expensive African player in football history.

The increased competition raises an obvious question: does Diaz still benefit from staying at Real Madrid?

It is not the first time the 27-year-old has been regarded as surplus to requirements at the Spanish club. Since returning from a three-year loan spell at AC Milan in the summer of 2023, the Morocco international has repeatedly been linked with a move away or expected to occupy a secondary role.

Yet Diaz has consistently found a way to remain useful. What has sometimes looked like stubbornness has also become a form of determination, and that persistence has brought rewards.

The Malaga-born player has made more than 30 La Liga appearances in each of his past three seasons at Real Madrid. During that period, he helped the club win La Liga, the Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup.

When Xabi Alonso arrived in the dugout a year ago, it appeared his opportunities might shrink. Instead, the opposite happened.

Rodrygo’s serious injury opened the door for Diaz, who finished the campaign as a second striker and provided eight assists in La Liga. Even during a disappointing season for the team, he was rarely out of place.

His perseverance was praised by former coach Alvaro Arbeloa and is therefore difficult to dismiss entirely. The problem for Diaz is that the present squad appears to leave even less room for manoeuvre.

For his return to the Real Madrid bench, Jose Mourinho is expected to use a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would theoretically provide four attacking positions.

Three of those places appear likely to belong to Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior in the forward positions, with Jude Bellingham operating as the number 10. Rodrygo, who is expected to return to competitive action by September, will then look to reclaim a wide position from Yan Diomande.

Diomande had already impressed Mourinho before Florentino Perez sanctioned the major investment in him. The Ivorian could therefore become involved in a direct African contest with Diaz for the right-wing role, although Endrick is also expected to be part of the battle after returning from his loan spell at Lyon.

The competition is not limited to the wings. Arda Guler has performed strongly during pre-season and is expected to be Bellingham’s main deputy in the central attacking role. Bernardo Silva provides another option. Mourinho could use the Portugal international further back as an advanced number eight, but Silva is also capable of competing for an attacking place.

Those creative and versatile players are likely to begin ahead of Diaz. He is adaptable himself, having played on the right for Morocco, as well as on the left, as a number 10 and behind a striker. Even so, in a squad of this depth, opportunities may be extremely difficult to find.

Diaz has at least done everything possible during pre-season to strengthen his case. Real Madrid remained unbeaten in the summer, recording four wins and a draw against Fiorentina.

Because Diomande joined the group late, Diaz started the final three friendlies against Ferencvaros, Deportivo La Coruna and Schalke. He scored an excellent winning goal against Deportivo.

Against Schalke, Diaz started on the right of an attack that also included Guler, Vinicius and Mbappe. He played with discipline, worked hard defensively and followed his instructions before being replaced by Diomande after an hour.

Those qualities are particularly significant under Mourinho. The “Special One” values players who are prepared to work without the ball, protect their flank and follow tactical instructions precisely. Diaz gave him little reason to complain in that respect, although it remains unclear whether that will be enough.

There are potential alternatives if Diaz chooses to leave. Juventus made enquiries in June, while Luciano Spalletti is understood to be an admirer of his profile. AC Milan, where Diaz spent three seasons, would also like to bring him back, and Liverpool have been linked with the Morocco international.

For now, though, Diaz has no interest in listening to those possibilities. His intention remains to stay at Real Madrid and compete for his place under Mourinho.

That stance is consistent with his entire Madrid career. Diaz has never treated the prospect of being a substitute as inevitable. While other players might have chosen a club offering more regular playing time, he has continued to believe he can change the pecking order at what he regards as the biggest club in the world.

That mentality has already served him well, but it could also eventually work against him.

Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi will be watching the situation closely. After the World Cup, he delivered a clear message to his players, one that could have applied to Diaz.

With the Atlas Lions, Diaz remains one of the team’s leading attacking figures and his position is close to untouchable, despite criticism of what was sometimes viewed as overly individualistic behaviour during the World Cup.

Ouahbi now wants his senior players to do more than perform for their national team. He also expects them to hold important roles at their clubs on a regular basis.

That is where Diaz’s decision becomes complicated. Remaining at Real Madrid offers maximum exposure, an elite competitive environment and the chance to win the biggest trophies. But a season spent mainly making brief substitute appearances, if he receives even those opportunities, would conflict with the message sent by Ouahbi.

On paper, leaving during the transfer window may therefore be the most rational option. At 27, Diaz is no longer a developing youngster who can spend several seasons waiting for an opening. He is entering a stage of his career when he should be starting most matches and becoming an established leader.

To remain important at Real Madrid, he may once again have to rely on injuries, poor form or mistakes from the players ahead of him. He knows that situation better than anyone.

The question is whether his determination will again become rewarded perseverance or finally reach its limits.