Brahim Díaz knocks on the door after AFCON setback | OneFootball

Brahim Díaz, 26, left Mestalla buoyant after giving his shirt to supporters. The Real Madrid forward is moving past his Africa Cup of Nations final penalty miss, which could have handed the Atlas Lions the title.

He accepted responsibility in a statement, despite returning as Golden Boot and the only player to score in five consecutive games, taking his side to the final. According to AS, those close to him felt the setback would harden him, and recent weeks support that.

Since returning three weeks ago he has stepped up across three Madrid games, at Villarreal, against Rayo, and on Sunday in Valencia. Against Rayo he replaced Bellingham in minute five, fed Vinicius for the opener, then sparked the move that led to Mbappé’s penalty for 2-1.

At Valencia he set up Kylian again to seal the win, the seventh straight league victory since the early December debacle against Celta. He started on the bench and operated from the left, though he could also feature on the right with Rodrygo out, Mastantuono yet to kick on, and Valverde in midfield.

He has shone from the left in the past two outings and could even play off Mbappé to exploit the Frenchman’s runs. He knows there is a place for him in the starting XI but will wait to spark matches, as against Atlético in the Champions League, when he scored with guile, skill and instinct. Those traits are scarce in the current squad, and as he awaits the formalisation of a new deal to 2030, a sign of the club’s faith, he is knocking ever louder on Arbeloa’s door.

Source: AS