Madrid Are Ready To Release Mariano And Recruit Mbappe's Brother

MADRID - Lyon hope to borrow back Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz in the January transfer window. Mariano is not included in coach Zinedine Zidane's plans this season.

Diario AS cited a report from French newspaper L'Equipe which claimed Mariano - previously playing at Lyon - and Hatem Ben Arfa were their two main targets.

The Dominican-born striker was involved in only one match for Los Blancos when they lost to Real Mallorca earlier this season. Often sitting on the bench, Mariano never played again.

"He will be loaned out for two seasons, although we have not decided with the club yet," Mariano's agent David Aranda was quoted as saying by Diario AS last month.

A report in Diario Sport in November said the striker was being sought after by Espanyol, Real Betis and Monaco. Meanwhile El Mundo Deportivo also outlined interest from Milan.

Lyon wants Mariano Diaz on loan. It's a good thing for him, he knows the house and he will also get to play in the Champions League. Here is few goals of him when he was at Lyon. Mariano is a very underrated player in my opinion. pic.twitter.com/Usxa58EqW0

- El Gato Benzema (@ElGatoKBenzema) January 1, 2020

Since returning from Lyon, Mariano has been a fringe figure in the last two seasons. Madrid prefer Karim Benzema, Rodrygo Goes and Luka Jovic as their first choice strikers.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid is currently planning to recruit Kylian Mbappe's younger brother, Ethan. The players will be sent to their youth soccer academy.

Ethan is currently 13 years old and recently starred in the International Champions Cup Futures tournament, sparking speculation that he could join his brother at Real Madrid in the future to become a big star.

Madrid were beaten by Roma in the quarter-finals of this competition, but Spanish media claim their scouts are working hard at the tournament and keeping an eye on the Mbappe brothers.