{"id":561042,"date":"2020-08-06T09:55:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T13:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=561042"},"modified":"2020-08-06T09:55:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-06T13:55:09","slug":"brahim-diaz-faces-manchester-city-amid-rumours-of-a-real-madrid-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/08\/06\/brahim-diaz-faces-manchester-city-amid-rumours-of-a-real-madrid-exit\/","title":{"rendered":"Brahim Diaz Faces Manchester City Amid Rumours of a Real Madrid Exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Manchester City<\/a> player Brahim Diaz<\/a> is set to face his old team in the Champions League this week when City face Real Madrid<\/a>. D<\/span>espite swirling rumours linking <\/span>Diaz <\/span>with a return to the Premier League, he <\/span>has been named<\/a> in Madrid’s 24-man squad.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is speculation linking<\/a> West Ham United<\/a> with a loan move for the talented wide-midfielder. In late-May, The Sun<\/a> reported that he was one of four players who could move to Manchester United<\/a>, in a part-exchange deal for United’s Paul Pogba.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

However, reports in Spain suggest that Diaz could remain in La Liga.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brahim Diaz Set to Face Manchester City in Champions League Clash<\/h2>\n

Diaz Not Playing<\/span><\/h3>\n

Diaz joined Manchester City in 2013. However, he left in January 2019 to join Real Madrid<\/a> in a \u00a315 million transfer. At the time, the then 19-year-old was on the fringes of City’s first-team, but he was not at a stage where he could challenge the likes of Raheem Sterling<\/a>, Leroy Sane<\/a> and Riyad Mahrez.<\/span><\/p>\n

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was extremely disappointed at losing Diaz. So much so, that he re-ignited the debate regarding Premier League ‘B teams’<\/a> joining the Football League.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During the first half of the 2018\/19 season, Diaz made four appearances for City, although none of these were in the Premier League. He cited a desire to play more first-team football as his reason for leaving Manchester.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sadly, for The Spaniard, his switch to Madrid has seen a reduction in his first-team opportunities. So far, he has made just seven substitute appearances for Madrid during their 2019\/20 La Liga and Champions League matches. In total, this amounts to less than two hours playing time. However, Diaz did start in Madrid’s Copa del Rey tie<\/a> against Real Sociedad.<\/span><\/p>\n

A situation that is far from ideal for the highly-rated Diaz. Real Madrid also want an increase in his playing time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Madrid Want a Loan Move<\/span><\/h3>\n

Real Madrid’s solution is to send Diaz on loan. <\/span>According<\/span> to reports in Spain, there are several interested clubs.\u00a0 West Ham United are one of these. Two others are Spanish clubs Getafe and Real Betis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Getafe appeared favourites. Now, Real Betis have emerged as a more likely possibility. If West Ham lose out to Real Betis, then their sacking of Manuel Pellegrini could be the reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pellegrini is the man in charge of Betis. He was also the man who brought Diaz – then aged just 14 – to England. The pair were previously at Malaga, before Pellegrini signed him for City in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Spanish newspaper El Espanol<\/a>, negotiations between Real Madrid and Real Betis are at an advanced stage, with the deal close to <\/span>completion<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>