Mariano bids Lyon au revoir: "It's time to say goodbye"

Spanish striker Mariano Díaz, who returns to Real Madrid after a season in France with Olympique de Lyon, has published a goodbye letter to the Ligue 1 side, thanking team mates, coaching staff, club employees and fans.

Mariano's big Thank you to Lyon fans

Mariano began his letter: "Today is when I must say goodbye to a club which helped me a lot to develop as a footballer and as a person. I only have words of thanks for my team mates, members of the coaching staff, everyone who works at the club and above all, the fans who have been there every single day".

The 25-year-old made 45 appearances and scored 21 goals during his season in Lyon.

"With every ounce of effort, in every move, with every touch of the ball, every pass and every goal, I have defended the Olympique de Lyon shirt as though my life depended on it", he continued.

Return to the capital

Mariano joined Real Madrid from Badalona as a teenager. He spent time with the Under-19s and Real Madrid C before making the move up to Castilla in 2014. One season later, in 2015/16, he ended as the top scorer in the Second Division B - scoring 27 goals for the B team. With the senior side, he was part of the squad which won the Champions League, LaLiga, the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 2016/17. He was transferred to Olympique de Lyon on a five-year deal last summer but returns to the Spanish less than a year after he left.