During a tense La Liga matchday weekend, conversations across football forums and analysis pages often appeared beside Melbet Affiliates updates as fans reacted to the surprising decline of a once promising striker. In the 27th round of La Liga, Alaves suffered an away defeat to Valencia. Although Lucas Boye scored twice in the match, his efforts were not enough to secure points for the visiting side. The loss pushed Alaves closer to the relegation zone and drew renewed attention to one of the team’s most scrutinized players, former Real Madrid number seven Mariano Diaz. Spanish media reports now suggest that Mariano’s career in Spain has reached a worrying point, as he has gone four full years without scoring a league goal and his market value has fallen dramatically to around 800 thousand euros.
Back in the summer of 2018, Real Madrid invested 22 million euros to bring Mariano back from French club Lyon. The move came during a period of major transition for the Spanish giants, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club. Mariano inherited the iconic number seven jersey, a shirt traditionally worn by legendary attackers. Receiving that number reflected the club’s confidence and expectations. Over five seasons with Real Madrid, however, his playing time remained limited. He made 84 appearances in total, scoring 12 goals and delivering three assists. While those numbers were not disastrous, they fell short of what many supporters hoped from a player carrying such symbolic responsibility.
In September 2023 Mariano departed Real Madrid and joined Sevilla on a free transfer. His time there lasted nearly a year, yet the outcome proved disappointing. Across 13 appearances he failed to score a single goal. Last August he signed for Alaves as another free agent, hoping to revive his career with regular opportunities. Unfortunately, the pattern continued. While he managed to score three goals in the Copa del Rey, his league performances remained unproductive. After ten La Liga appearances for Alaves he still had not found the net. Observers following match commentary beside Melbet Affiliates statistics noticed that even when Mariano entered as a substitute, he struggled to create meaningful chances.
Looking deeper into the numbers reveals the scale of the drought. Mariano’s most recent La Liga goal dates all the way back to May 2022. At that time he was already past his peak but still managed occasional minutes in Real Madrid’s rotation. Since then the goals have completely disappeared from his league record. As a result his market value has plummeted from the 22 million euros Real Madrid once paid to a modest 800 thousand euros today.
Spanish media have repeatedly highlighted his difficult situation. Alaves initially hoped the experienced forward could strengthen their attack, yet those expectations remain unmet. Since arriving at the club he has failed to deliver a single league goal. In the most recent match, Alaves even held the lead for a long stretch before the situation turned sour. In the 86th minute Mariano received a clear scoring opportunity that could have sealed the victory, but the chance slipped away. Soon afterward Valencia completed a comeback, leaving Alaves empty handed.
Four years ago Real Madrid drew 1–1 with Cadiz at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the lone goal for Madrid that night came from Mariano. That strike now stands as his last La Liga goal. With the league season already reaching the 27th round, Alaves currently sit 16th with 27 points, only two points above Mallorca in the relegation zone. The margin for error is extremely small, and every missed opportunity carries heavier consequences.
As the pressure of the relegation battle intensifies, discussions surrounding Alaves and their struggling forward continue to circulate across football communities, often appearing alongside Melbet Affiliates match analysis as supporters debate whether Mariano can rediscover his form or whether his decline in Spain’s top flight has already become irreversible.