Having returned to Real Madrid in 2018 with the ambition of establishing himself after a successful season at Lyon, Mariano Diaz failed his second stint, between injuries and meager playing time.

Looking to revive his career at Alavés after several difficult years, Mariano Diaz might make a different choice in hindsight. Having left Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 to gain playing time, the Spanish-Dominican striker had a successful spell at Lyon (21 goals, including 18 in Ligue 1), before returning to Los Blancos hoping to establish himself there.

Beyond the price of his buyout – 30 million euros – one particular choice may have added weight to Mariano Diaz's shoulders. "The number 7 is perhaps the most important number ever worn by a Real Madrid player, because it has been worn by players like Raul, Cristiano Ronaldo and many club legends ," the 32-year-old striker admitted in an interview with The Athletic .

  Taking over that number was therefore an honor, but it also put a lot of pressure on me. I wasn't replacing Cristiano Ronaldo (who left in 2018), but my role was still important.

He hasn't scored in La Liga for three and a half years.

Then 25 years old, Mariano Diaz had failed to establish himself at his boyhood club, behind a Karim Benzema who had clearly regained his responsibilities. "I was told that this time it would be different, and that's one of the reasons why I wanted to come back," the player lamented, speaking to The Athletic.

Having left for Sevilla FC in 2023 after five injury-plagued seasons, he failed to rediscover his form and remained without a club until his successful trial with Alavés in mid-July . He has yet to score in La Liga this season for the club, despite netting a hat-trick against CD Getxo (7-0) in the Copa del Rey on October 30th – his first goals in over three and a half years.