REAL MADRID

Real Madrid are in the process of trying to convince Brahim Díaz not to renew his contract with Manchester City and instead move to the Spanish capital next summer. As his current contract ends in June 2019 he would arrive for free.

Brahim Díaz: a possible return to Spain

Based on information coming from those close to the player, Díaz is aware of Madrid's interest and is flattered by it. The youngster's current view is that he should leave Manchester, with the main reason being that he is not seeing much playing time, despite his two goals in three appearances this season. Another factor, however, is the desire to return to his homeland of Spain.

Brahim's family moved to Manchester when he joined City (he has four little sisters with whom he spends much of his free time) and he likes the idea of returning to the country of his birth with them. In January he is free to negotiate with any club.

Full screen Manchester City's Brahim Diaz in action at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on July 26, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Tom Flathers (Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)

Manager Pep Guardiola, with whom Brahim shares his agent, Pere Guardiola, has asked the player to be patient, and the Premier League champions are hoping they can get him to sign an extension to his contract, while accepting that it may now be complicated. "We will do everything to keep him... But it's his decision," said the Catalan coach.

Madrid see Díaz as a similar case to that of Marco Asensio. If Brahim accepts their offer, he would complete pre-season with the first team and then the coaching staff would decide whether it is better for him to stay at the Bernabéu or develop at another LaLiga side.

Between the January transfer window and next summer, much is expected at Real Madrid following a period of few big-name signings, however, financing for the upgrade to the stadium remans a consideration for Florentino Pérez.