Real Madrid unable to bring Brahim back early from Milan loan

Of the five players who Real Madrid have out on loan at different European clubs, one is performing exceedingly well. Brahim Díaz, on loan at AC Milan, is a new idol with fans at San Siro. Last season, in the first year of his loan deal, he was largely used as a luxury player to bring off the bench by coach Stefano Pioli, but this season he has really come into his own.

Brahim, a starter under Pioli

He has been in the starting line-up in 10 of the team's 11 games this season, racking up a total of 760 minutes on-field, 76.6% of the possible playing time. During that time he has contributed four goals and a couple of assists. And while things haven't been working out as planned in the Champions League, Milan are joint leaders in Serie A level on points with Napoli and unbeaten (10 victories and two draws).

Brahim's good moment of form has been noted by Spain coach Luis Enrique, who has handed the player his first call-up for the senior side. Luis Enrique and his staff have been following his progress for some time and decided that the November international break, in which Spain could secure their place at next year's World Cup finals in Qatar, is an opportune moment to give Brahim experience of being with the senior squad. "It's every school kid's dream," he exclaimed on arrival at Spain's base in Las Rozas. The former Manchester City player has actually already made his debut of sorts with the national team. On 8 June 2021, Spain played a friendly against Lithuania in preparation for Euro 2020. But that day, the whole of the first team squad was place in quarantine after several players tested positive for Covid-19. In the end, it was Luis de la Fuente's Under-21s, including Brahim, who played the friendly. The Madrid player scored Spain's second goal in the 4-0 win.

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Brahim's progress is being closely monitored in Madrid's back offices. The club is very happy  with how he is evolving in Milan. Is is exactly the kind of progress they hoped to see in him when they paid Manchester City 20 million euros to bring him to the Bernabéu in the 2019 winter transfer window. However, bringing him back to the Spanish capital next summer is not going to be simple. The loan contract which was signed back in July runs until 2023. Milan, with head honcho Paolo Maldini, are pushing hard to keep the player, and it will be very difficult to see them letting him leave when he is one of the key figures in the current Milan side. If Madrid try to recover Brahim before his loan deal expires, it could cause friction with a club they have always enjoyed a close relationship with. And besides, the player is very happy where he is and is not thinking about quitting a club who have been so generous with him.

Madrid anticipated something like this happening which is why they retain some control over Brahim's future. Initially, Milan were keen to include an option to buy the player in the loan contract, but Madrid, with Brahim's approval decided against it. The 22-year-old's dream is to triumph at the Bernabéu and the time will come for him to do that although it is unlikely that it will be next summer.