Real Madrid’s 27-year-old star emerges as surprise January exit candidate

Real Madrid’s 27-year-old star emerges as surprise January exit candidate Brahim Diaz could be facing an uncertain future at Real Madrid, with his diminishing role under Jose Mourinho raising the possibility of a January departure, according to MARCA . The Moroccan international’s situation has become increasingly difficult to ignore following Real Madrid’s dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma.  With Madrid trailing 1-3 and needing fresh attacking options to turn the match around, Mourinho introduced his available attacking reinforcements but left Brahim on the bench. For a player who featured prominently during pre-season, being overlooked during such a decisive spell represents a significant setback.  Hence, with the winter transfer window approaching, Brahim is emerging as that one candidate who could leave if his opportunities do not improve. Brahim Diaz’s playing time at Real Madrid raises concerns Brahim’s involvement during pre-season had offered encouragement after Morocco’s early elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup allowed him to work with Mourinho.  However, his role changed when competitive football began. Brahim Diaz could leave Real Madrid in January. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) Brahim, 27, was left unused during Real Madrid’s visit to Espanyol, despite the team needing contributions from across the squad.  The subsequent matches have done little to improve his position, leaving him with just 178 minutes across four appearances in the ten matches played by Madrid so far. To put it in perspective, among the 20 players used by the club during that period, only Carlos Espi and Endrick have recorded fewer minutes, with 38 and 35 respectively. As such, the Moroccan’s opportunities have largely been concentrated in two starts: the third league match against Malaga and the Champions League opener against Inter. Those two appearances account for 143 of his 178 minutes this season, leaving him with only 35 minutes across his other outings.  That distribution helps explain how difficult it has been for the attacker to establish a regular role. Mourinho’s attacking choices leave Brahim behind The Roma comeback provided another indication of Brahim’s position in the current pecking order.  Brahim Diaz has not played much this season. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) With Madrid needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, Mourinho turned to his attacking options, but the Moroccan was not among those selected to help change the game. As such, Brahim has also fallen behind Yan Diomande and Arda Guler in the competition for attacking places, which further complicates his chances of securing consistent minutes. His situation is particularly striking because he had been a prominent figure during pre-season.  The transition into competitive matches has instead seen his opportunities shrink, leaving him struggling to translate that earlier involvement into a meaningful role. Could Brahim Diaz leave Real Madrid in January? As stated before, Brahim’s lack of playing time has raised the possibility of a winter departure.  The January window could provide an opportunity for the Moroccan to seek a club where he can play more regularly, with teams such as AC Milan and Galatasaray monitoring his situation. Endrick had previously emerged as a possible candidate to leave in search of opportunities, but Brahim’s circumstances could now make him another name to watch.