Former Manchester City winger Brahim Diaz was the match-winner in the Champions League for Real Madrid in the first leg of their Round 16 clash against Atletico Madrid.
After Rodrygo Goes opened the scoring with an incredible early goal, Julian Alvarez equalised with a scorcher of a striker to bring Diego Simeone’s side back into the contest.
However, Diaz saved the day for Real Madrid by leaving Jose Maria Gimenez for dead with a crafty piece of footwork before slotting the ball past Jan Oblak.
Since leaving Manchester City in 2019, the Moroccan has gone on to have a stellar career — making a name for himself on loan at AC Milan before returning to Carlo Ancelotti’s side where he has become a key squad player.
The 25-year-old even haunted Pep Guardiola by scoring the leveller in Los Blancos’ 3-2 win against City at the Etihad Stadium.
But as Diaz broke Atletico Madrid supporters’ hearts with a phenomenal goal against Real Madrid, Manchester City fans rued the fact that the club sold him in the first place.
Man City fans upset about Brahim Diaz sale after Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
One Manchester City fan complained about the Sky Blues selling Diaz, simply writing on X: “Should have never sold Brahim Diaz”, followed by three ‘crying emojis.’
Another Manchester City fan agreed, claiming Diaz is one of the many young players they should have kept — potentially referring to Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Romeo Lavia’s sales in recent years: “Add Brahim Diaz to the 20 players City should’ve kept.”
Add Brahim Diaz to the 20 players City should’ve kept lol
— DeLa (@ThisIsDela_)
March 4, 2025
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A third City supporter wrote: “I said back then, he was a bigger talent than [Phil] Foden and I stand by it, that Real Madrid game in pre-season [back in 2017] where he put it in top bins gave me [Lionel] Messi vibes.”
A fourth Manchester City fan suggested that selling Diaz and Alvarez were mistakes from his club: “Brahim, Alvarez putting on a show. What Man City could’ve been man. Sigh.”
Brahim, Alvarez putting on a show. What Man City could’ve been man. Sigh
— f🪢 (@Favelzzyy)
March 4, 2025
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A fifth Manchester City added: “Julian Alvarez and now Brahim Diaz. Probably my favourite City academy player of all time. Hurts a little to watch.”
Finally, sixth fan replied to a post mentioning how Diaz’s sale was a mistake from Manchester City by replying: “Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, Brahim, Alvarez.”
What Pep Guardiola said when Brahim Diaz joined Real Madrid
Ultimately, every club has to let players go and City are no different.
The Champions League winner was slowly but surely being integrated into the English giants’ first-team but at the time, they had a plethora of incredible wide forwards such as Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva.
After Diaz left Manchester City, Pep Guardiola was quizzed about whether he was “disappointed” about his exit.
Guardiola replied via Diario AS: “No. I said many times, we did with Brahim the same we have done with Phil and Jadon [Sancho], important players, we did absolutely everything. The only one who decided to stay was Phil and that’s all.”
“Wish him all the best. Of course, going to Real Madrid is not a bad step. So, hopefully he can take the minutes he wanted to take and he didn’t want want to take in the last period for many reasons. Wish him all the best because he’s a nice guy but on the other side, congratulations for all the academy, all the club to work so well.”
Diaz would perhaps be grateful for Manchester City for helping him become the player he is today, capable of turning big European games on their head as he did by stepping up to the plate for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid during Spain’s fiercest rivalry.