Ligue 1 Giants signed Real Madrid Forward

The Real Madrid forward has struggled to break into the Zidane's first team squad and has now made a move to the French giants in order to get more first-team football. The promising 23-year-old forward Mariano Diaz has completed his move from Real Madrid to Lyon.

The transfer is reportedly worth around €8 million and represent a coup of sorts for Lyon as a number of clubs including Liverpool were reportedly interested in the Spanish-born Dominican’s signature.

Mariano Diaz signed a five-year contract with the French giants, but he does lack the experience of playing top level football. He made his senior Real Madrid debut against Celta Vigo last August and made eight LaLiga substitute appearances in the club's title-winning campaign, scoring once against Deportivo La Coruna in December.

Mariano scored a further four goals across two legs of Madrid's Copa del Rey last-32 tie against Cultural Leonesa – his only two starts of the season - and leaves in search of greater first-team opportunities.

The Spaniard is Lyon’s fourth signing of this transfer window and he will be joining Fernando Marcal, Bertrand Traore and Ferland Mendy ahead of the 2017-18 campaign. Mariano Diaz is among a host of young Real Madrid stars leaving Los Blancos in search of regular playing time.

 The 23-year-old striker joins the likes of Enzo Zidane and Alvaro Jimenez in departing Santiago Bernabeu. However, Zidane will not be too worried about the mini-exodus as he still has plenty of squad depth to call upon.