Benzema, the man behind Diaz's transfer to Lyon

CAIRO – 16 October 2017: Real Madrid French striker, Karim Benzema, suggested his former teammate in Real Madrid, Mariano Diaz to his former club, Lyon this summer, and this transfer has a great impact on the French team this season.

The Spanish-born Dominican, Diaz has a great start with Lyon this season as the player scored 7 goals in 9 games with Lyon to be the club’s top goal scorer.

Diaz, 24, played alongside Benzema in 2017 in Real Madrid but the French performance affected Diaz participation with the team and he decided to leave the club to join Lyon.

“Mariano is great and I am thankful for the person [Benzema] who suggested that he'd be the ideal player for us,” Lyon’s President, Jean-Michel Aulas told the press on Monday.

Benzema, born in Lyon, is a die-hard Lyon fan. He joined the club when he was 9 years old and got promoted through the youth rankings till he represented the first team in 2004 and played there for 5 years before joining Real Madrid in 2009.