Real Madrid’s mystery man
In Real Madrid’s last five games, winger Brahim Díaz has played just of 11% of all available minutes - despite appearing to strengthen his case at AFCON.
In Real Madrid’s last nine matches, no starts and only 20.4% of the available minutes (165). In the last five, 50 minutes - just 11%. That’s Brahim Díaz’s reality. That’s the data. As cold as it is, at times, revealing. And it’s not because Real Madrid are in some sparkling moment of form. Far from it. Especially after the setback in Getafe, watching both the lead in the table and the team’s overall feeling slip away - with the latter more worrying than the former. In that context, against Los Azulones, with Madrid lacking ideas, spark and an end product, Brahim didn’t step onto the pitch until the 87th minute. Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal, Franco Mastantuono and Rodrygo Goes all came on before him; he was the final throw of the dice. From being the most decisive player at the Africa Cup of Nations to holding a secondary - more like tertiary - role at Madrid.
A drop in importance that comes right after the two matches where he had the biggest impact on results: an assist and a penalty won in the 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecanp, and the decisive pass for Kylian Mbappé to close out a 2-0 victory in Valencia. At that point, the fans were calling for more Brahim: over 70% of AS readers who took part in a poll believed he deserved a starting spot, something that had eluded him for more than three months. But once the spotlight faded came that stretch of five games: 17 minutes against Real Sociedad, 26 against Osasuna, four in the first leg against Benfica, zero in the return leg, and the final three minutes in Getafe. A snapshot of a mystery.
Expectation vs reality
Despite a painful ending that left him wiping away the tears, Brahim returned from AFCON having seemingly strengthened his case for a place in the Madrid team. Carrying the disappointment of defeat in the final, having missed his decisive penalty against Senegal, but having scored five goals to be crowned top scorer of the tournament ahead of Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah (four each), and earning him the nickname “The Lion of the Atlas.” His objective was clear: use the tournament as a springboard back at Madrid. To turn those mere four starts and 23.4% of available minutes under Xabi Alonso into something more. Instead, reality has turned out to be the opposite.
Brahim’s Real numbers
Since returning from AFCON, Brahim ranks 17th among Madrid players in minutes played. Only academy players, Dani Ceballos, Carvajal and Rodrygo - those last two affected by injuries - have played less. His statistical return: two assists and a won penalty. He’s contributed to a goal every 55 minutes.
For context: Mbappé has contributed every 63 minutes (eight goals, one assist, and one penalty won); Vinicius Júnior every 73.3 minutes (seven goals, two assists, two penalties won); Jude Bellingham and Mastantuono have produced one goal each in 280 and 302 minutes respectively; and Arda Güler, in 805 minutes, has two assists. In a Madrid side short on spark, Brahim - rather than emerging as the injection of energy he seemed poised to become - has instead become an enigma.
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