Over Christmas, news broke that Brahim Diaz was not happy with manager Xabi Alonso and sent what was referred to as an important ultimatum to Real Madrid’s board.
Brahim, who is not doing so well at Real Madrid, is helping to win at the national level after his country Morocco has now reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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The championship has become the showcase he wanted! – Clubs in all the major leagues are keeping a close eye on Morocco, who are again strong. – New Real Madrid manager until the summer Alvaro Arbeloa is said to be an avid fan of Brahim Diaz who returns home from Africa with a medal and hopefully a new future in the Spanish capital.
Morocco fought their way to the Africa Cup of Nations final on home soil, after beating Nigeria in the semi-finals. It happened after an unusually dramatic penalty shootout. The score was 0-0 after 120 minutes. The Moroccans had the advantage of just about all of the more than 50,000 spectators in Rabat cheering them on, and that advantage came in handy.
After both teams scored on their first attempts, Hamza Igamane and Samuel Chukwueze missed their respective penalties. Morocco then scored on the next two, before Olawoyin Bruno missed. Then Youssef En-Nesyri stepped forward. – And put the ball in the goal.
Morocco will face Senegal in the final on Sunday. Senegal won their semi-final against Egypt.
Brilliant for his country, on the bench for Real Madrid
Despite his quality and impact every time he steps on the pitch, Brahim Diaz feels that his role in the team is clearly inadequate.
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The situation has reached a breaking point. With less playing time than last season and a pending renewal on the table, Brahim has decided to suspend any conversation until his sporting situation changes significantly.
A secondary role that wears Brahim down at Real Madrid
The comparison with last season is inevitable. With Carlo Ancelotti on the bench, Brahim was not a regular player, but he was a regular asset. At this time last season, the attacker had exceeded 800 minutes across all competitions and had an active role in the rotation, especially in close games or as a player who could turn the game around.
Under Xabi Alonso’s leadership, the reality was very different. Brahim barely reaches 500 minutes played, a figure that clearly reflects his almost permanent substitute status. He is not part of the original plans, rarely the first choice from the bench, and his prominent role is limited to occasional appearances, often when the game has already been decided.
This situation has a significant psychological impact on the footballer. Brahim believes that his performance when playing justifies more opportunities, but he feels that the context does not allow him to compete on an equal footing with other attacking teammates. The lack of continuity hinders his progress and directly affects his self-esteem.
The Africa Cup of Nations reinforces his position and exposes the contradiction
While his role at Real Madrid is marginal, Brahim becomes one of the prominent figures in the Africa Cup of Nations. With Morocco, he has become the offensive leader, taking on responsibility, appearing at crucial moments. – He is the top scorer in the championship with 5th goal in 6 games.
His performance in the continental tournament has strengthened his belief that the problem is not football-related. Brahim feels important, supported and with the freedom to show off his talent, completely opposite to what he experiences daily at Valdebebas. This difference in emotions has been crucial in his change of attitude regarding his future.
Those around the player believe that this Africa Cup of Nations serves as a showcase and a direct message to the club. Brahim demonstrates that, with confidence and playing time, he can be decisive at the top level. The contradiction between his role with Morocco and his situation at Real Madrid is becoming increasingly clear.
Ultimatum to the club and an increasingly uncertain future
Brahim is under contract until 2027, but his renewal was expected to be a priority in the coming months. However, the player himself has decided to stop any negotiations. He is not willing to extend his contract if the sporting project does not offer him a much more relevant role.
The message to the club is clear. If his situation does not change in the second half of the season and he continues to be a secondary player, Brahim will not renew and will push for a departure in the summer market. It is not a question of money, but purely sporting and personal ambition.
Real Madrid is aware of the scenario. They know that a motivated and consistent Brahim is a valuable asset, but they also understand that competition in attack is intense and not everyone can be a protagonist. The final decision will shape the player’s future and could spark an internal debate about the handling of playing time and talent.
What is clear is that Brahim has taken a step forward. His performance in the Africa Cup of Nations and his firm stance have changed the landscape. The decision is now in the hands of Real Madrid.
Real Madrid’s media department has been quick to congratulate their benched struggling international
