Since joining Real Madrid from Manchester City in 2019, Brahim Diaz has made 163 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 22 goals and providing 30 assists. Yet since returning to the Spanish capital, the Moroccan international has never firmly established himself as an undisputed starter, with each successive manager taking a different approach to how he should be used.
Despite that, Brahim has never given up. Driven by his fighting spirit, strong attachment to the club, and considerable patience, he continued to push for opportunities. Even when Xabi Alonso considered his profile important or Álvaro Arbeloa openly praised him, the midfielder’s playing time remained limited. Arbeloa himself admitted as much during a press conference.
“The truth is that he plays less than he deserves, and that’s my fault.”
AFP
During the 2025-26 season, Brahim—whose status with Morocco’s Atlas Lions rose after finishing as the top scorer at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and helping the national team win the continental title—still did not see a significant increase in playing time. He made 42 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and providing nine assists. One statistic stands out, however: he started only 13 of his 30 La Liga appearances.
The Atlas Lion reportedly received offers from clubs in Italy and England that could have tempted him to leave. Instead, he once again chose to stay at Real Madrid. Last winter, reports even suggested he could extend his contract until 2030, although no official announcement has followed.
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Now, however, José Mourinho’s appointment as Real Madrid manager has inevitably revived questions about Brahim’s future. The fact that the Moroccan remains at the club after a busy transfer window suggests he features in the Portuguese coach’s plans. The key question is whether he can finally secure a regular starting place, especially with new competition arriving, including Bernardo Silva and potentially Ivorian international Yan Diomandé.
According to AS, “Mourinho is counting on Brahim” because of his versatility. The Moroccan can operate in central positions, as an attacking midfielder, on either wing, or as a second striker—“as he demonstrated so well last season.” Under Arbeloa, after a quieter spell, he had also regained “an important role” during part of the campaign.
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His determination and patience have earned the trust of successive managers, from Carlo Ancelotti to Arbeloa. The remaining question is whether “The Special One” can finally unlock the full potential of the player who, as AS put it, “has never given up.”
Brahim is also set to rejoin his Real Madrid teammates after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he delivered a solid campaign with Morocco, who reached the quarterfinals. The Moroccan international finished as the tournament’s second-leading assist provider with four assists, tied with Bruno Guimarães and behind Michael Olise, who topped the standings with seven.
