Real Madrid’s new No7 Mariano Diaz said he was not feeling the pressure of being granted the iconic jersey after bagging his first Champions League goal for the club on Wednesday.
Diaz returned to Real Madrid this August after a solid season with Ligue 1 outfit Lyon last year and was handed the jersey vacated by Cristiano Ronaldo following his transfer to Italian Serie A giants Juventus.
Diaz was on target in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over AS Roma in their Champions League group stage opener at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
“I have the seven but it’s just a number. I do not give it more importance. I have a lot of respect for Cristiano and all the players who have worn it,” Diaz told reporters after the win over Roma.
Mariano is now hoping for a maiden Spain call-up.
Having made an instant impact in the Champions League for Madrid, the 25-year-old is now targetting a maiden call-up to the Spain national team. The forward had previously represented the Dominican Republic in an international friendly against Haiti in 2013 but remains eligible to play for Spain which is the country of his birth.
“I would love a call from Luis Enrique (Spain coach), I hope I can be in the national team. I’m very happy with the goal I scored, thanks to Marcelo’s pass and my teammates. I was eager but not in a hurry (to play). I just wanted to work to get the opportunity from the coach,” he said.