Former Real Madrid striker backs 'perfect' Mariano Díaz to succeed | OneFootball

Fernando Morientes has given his seal of approval after Real Madrid ended the transfer window with the re-signing of Mariano Díaz.

Mariano had played for Madrid from 2011, when he was just 18, until last summer before he was sold to Lyon.

The sale of Cristiano Ronaldo has seen a space open up and Mariano will now almost certainly make more than his eight LaLiga appearances in his first spell in the Spanish capital.

“Mariano is exactly the type of player who Madrid needed,” Morientes has said.

“He is a traditional number nine striker, a natural striker who has developed over the last year and is ready for the first-team squad.”

Real Madrid have started the season brilliantly since selling Ronaldo, with Gareth Bale and first-choice striker Karim Benzema scoring a combined seven goals in the opening three games of the LaLiga season.

Nonetheless, Morientes believes Mariano, who scored 21 times for Lyon last season, will have the chance to earn his place before long.

“(Karim) Benzema will still be first choice but he is move of a number 10 and is often deployed more from the flank cutting inside, but you need to have that central striker to play at some point.

“Mariano has developed in the French league, which was the perfect step for him to improve and he has done so, now I believe he has more value and has the mentality for a place at Madrid.”