Brahim Diaz has (already) forgotten the failed panenka at the AFCON

Since his missed panenka in the AFCON final, which had cost Morocco the title, Brahim Diaz seemed to have disappeared from the radar. With only six starts this season, the striker struggled to regain the influence he had two years ago, when he was the club’s providential twelfth man.

Frustrated by this meager playing time, Diaz requested an interview with his coach last week. Alvaro Arbeloa publicly acknowledged his responsibility in this situation, recognizing that the player deserved to play more given his constant involvement and his qualities in training.

This clarification was immediately followed by effects. Titled against Celta Vigo and then against Manchester City in the Champions League, the Moroccan has chained two appearances in the starting eleven, a first for him in ten months. His performance against the English left a mark.

If he does not offer the same goal guarantee as Kylian Mbappé, Diaz instills an energy that was sorely lacking in Real Madrid. According to L’Equipe, his activity between the lines, his constant pressing and his defensive returns have acted as a real engine for his teammates against City.

"I will strive to play him more because he has the abilities to help us much more," Arbeloa promised. The technician particularly praised the collective mentality of his player, whose intensity has transformed the face of a Merengue team sometimes lacking in rhythm.

The prolonged absence of Rodrygo and the disappointing performances of Franco Mastantuono now offer a central role to the Moroccan international. This upturn in form, validated by a high-level performance in Europe, could well mark the definitive turning point of his season in the Spanish capital.