Mariano is the only mole in Operation Salida

Madrid has the duties of the Operation Exit practically done with 18 days to go until the market closes on October 5. He has found a solution for Brahim, Kubo, Reinier, Vallejo, Achraf, Óscar Rodríguez, James and several homegrown players and with three others he has the work well on track. He is about to close the transfer of Reguilón and finally 'place' Bale, both of them to Tottenham. And the white club box appreciates it. With the sale of the side, the movements will add 110 million euros of income to the coffers of the entity. So, the club only has to convince one of the members of the transferable list: Mariano Díaz.

The 27-year-old striker clings to his contract to continue one more year at Madrid. The interest that arose from Benfica in mid-August was diluted by the financial demands of the player. He just wants to go out to a team that improves the 4.5 million euros net per season that the white club pays him. The Lisbon entity was not willing to reach that figure, which would now mean a greater effort if possible after the premature elimination of the team embodied in the third previous round of the Champions League, with the loss of income that is caused by being absent from the maximum continental competition.

Mariano maintains his closure despite the fact that with Zidane he will enjoy few opportunities. Last season he barely played 91 minutes spread over 7 games and, despite the goal in the Bernabéu Classic, after the confinement the French coach only gave him 8 testimonial minutes against Mallorca and one of the discount against Getafe. His physical condition, moreover, is not optimal. He has spent most of the preseason training alone, either on the pitch or directly in the gym. And to this is added an extra-sports health problem: this Wednesday he underwent an operation for angina, an intervention that will again have several days off.