MARIANO: LAS PALMAS RETURN IS MY TARGET

Mariano Díaz was officially presented as Sevilla player in a press conference on Tuesday alongside Bouboukary Soumaré. The forward confirmed to the media that he had started "With a good feeling. We have a good team and a good rhythm. Let's see if we can continue like this and have the best season possible". On a personal level, he admitted "I think I can get back to my best. I haven't had many minutes in the last few years, But I've come here to feel like a footballer again and to give my best. Sevilla is a great club for that. We are in the biggest competitions and I hope to be able to fulfil myself as a footballer again."

After almost making the switch to Nervión in 2018, he wants to start afresh: "That was five years ago and it's behind me now. I made that decision at the time but now I am where I want to be. I'm going to give my all for the opportunity I've been given." Discussing his decision to choose the #12 shirt famously worn by Kanouté, he acknowledged that "is a source of pride. I followed Sevilla a lot when I was a kid and it's a pride that I will defend with all my heart.". In addition, he appeared optimistic about making his debut against Las Palmas in the first match after the international break: "I think I'm going to be available. I've been training alone, which is not the same, but I've been with the group for two days now and I feel good, to help the team soon". Finally, he spoke about his competition in attack: "They are both great strikers. We have to learn by playing together and separately and I have very good references of both of them."

At the start of the conference, sporting director Víctor Orta spoke briefly about Mariano's arrival: "In a cup match between Balompédica Linense and Balona in 2011, someone from [our scout] Pablo Blanco's entourage was watching the match and Pablo called me. Unfortunately Real Madrid beat us to him. In Lyon he broke the nets and that's when we failed to reach an agreement a second time. Let's just say third time's a charm! [Mariano] couldn't have signed the contract any quicker and I think almost without looking at what he was signing! We want to give him back his love for football, his quality of finishing with his head and with both feet, receiving in tight areas and with space He can strike the ball like few others.... He has also endured until the end He could have gone to the United States or the Middle East but we want to thank him for being here."