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What will he do with the Portuguese?
Real Madrid and Morocco star Ibrahim Diaz is experiencing a defining moment in his football career following his remarkable display at the 2026 World Cup as he tries to convince new manager Jose Mourinho to hand him a starting spot amid fierce competition for the right-back position.
Catalan newspaper Sport say the Málaga-born attacking midfielder led the Atlas Lions to mathematical qualification for the round of 32, where he made two crucial assists against Brazil and Scotland, cementing his position as the fulcrum of Morocco’s attack.
“Ibrahim Diaz was the top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations. He plays for Real Madrid and is a great player. He will offer a lot. We expect more from him because he is one of the best players.”
But the real test of the Moroccan international’s maturity will await him upon his return to the Bernabeu, where he will face fierce competition for the right-back position with Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva and Endric, with Mourinho arriving with uncertainty over his future, who is starting from scratch with everyone else.
Ibrahim shares the spotlight with the Atlas Lions with veteran players such as Hakim and young talents such as Ayoub Bouadi and Neil Ainoui, but being a Real Madrid player raises the bar of expectations significantly.
During his three seasons at Real, the Malaga native has proven his ability to cope with the highest demands, producing immediate results when circumstances allow, although his position currently remains the most uncertain with European clubs interested in him.
The World Cup is a golden opportunity for Ibrahim and his teammates after two disappointing seasons at Real Madrid, as Mourinho closely monitors the development of his future players, some of whom he has already spoken to, in a tournament that is not just a football event for them, but the first step in convincing a manager who will demand the best from the first day of the pre-season.
