Mane Diaz, the father of Liverpool star Luis, has hinted at their aspiration for a potential future move to Madrid.
The Colombian international signed for the Reds from Porto during the 2021/22 January transfer window for a fee of £37.5million and has been a hit on Merseyside.
The 27-year-old has since won the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups, and also helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final in his first season.
However, previous reports say the club could listen to offers for him this summer, and it seems as though his dad may already be eyeing the next destination.
Mane was asked about his son’s past links to Real Madrid, and if he could have copied fellow Colombian Radamel Falcao’s path from Porto to Atletico Madrid.
“I wasn’t aware of anything positive with Madrid clubs,” he told Madrid based radio network Cadena SER. “There were rumours, but I never knew if there was more to it.
“With Liverpool, everything was more precise. The board was more precise for Luis to get there. The hope was that he could come here.
“Radamel Falcao had already been here, James Rodriguez too… Finally, it didn’t happen, but the hope hasn’t been lost yet. He’s playing and clubs are active.”
If Falcao’s success in Madrid is anything to go by, then Diaz could certainly suit a move to the Spanish capital.
The now 38-year-old scored an incredible 70 goals for Atletico in 90 appearances across two seasons after signing from Porto in 2011.
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He won the Europa League and Copa del Rey, as well as the Super Cup in 2012 having scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in the final.
Mane also mentioned James Rodriguez and his move to Atletico’s rivals Real, with the attacking midfielder dividing opinion on his success there.
After a stunning World Cup with Colombia in 2014, he left Monaco and amassed 35 goal contributions in his first season at Madrid.
However, his game time became limited under Zinedine Zidane and he was eventually loaned to Bayern Munich for two seasons.
For Diaz though, he will firmly be set on ending this season with Liverpool on a high despite the potential for a summer exit.
He has scored 11 goals in a campaign that could end in Premier League and Europa League success following their Carabao Cup triumph.