Incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has reportedly requested that the club pursue a deal for Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz. According to TuttoJuve, City are prepared to offer up to €60 million (£52m, $70m) for the 26-year-old Morocco international.
This pursuit comes as Maresca prepares to take over from Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, following a season where City finished second in the Premier League. The club are planning a significant overhaul of the squad during the summer transfer window. Diaz, who previously played for City between 2016 and 2019, making 15 first-team appearances and scoring twice, is seen as a key target for the new manager.
Diaz joined Real Madrid from Manchester City in January 2019 and has since become a valuable squad member, featuring 163 times for the first team, scoring 22 goals and providing 30 assists. However, he is not always a guaranteed starter when all players are fit, and Madrid may be open to selling him while he is still under contract until the summer of 2027 to secure a substantial transfer fee.
The potential sale could also depend on the outcome of Real Madrid’s upcoming presidential elections and the appointment of a new manager, with Jose Mourinho heavily linked with the position. Madrid are prioritizing strengthening their defense and midfield, and offloading fringe players, including Diaz, could help fund those acquisitions. A move back to Manchester could offer Diaz more consistent playing time and a prominent role in Maresca’s new project. This transfer could bolster City’s attacking options and provide competition for places in the forward line.
