Mariano bids farewell to Olympique Lyonnais, says hello to Real Madrid

Madrid : Spanish-Dominican Forward Mariano Diaz, best known as Mariano, penned a goodbye message to his former football team Olympique Lyonnais and the French side's supporters on Thursday, as he began a five-year contract with Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The 25-year-old Mariano is to be presented as Real Madrid's new player, after spending one year with Lyon, where he played 45 games and scored 21 goals, reports Efe.

"With every effort, every action, every control, every pass and every goal, I defended the shirt of Olympique Lyon as if it were my life. Today is the day to say goodbye to a club that has helped me more and more to progress as a player as well as a person," Mariano wrote to his official Twitter account.

"I cannot do anything but to thank my teammates, the members of the coaching staff, the employees of the club and, above all, the fans who have been there every day," he added.

Mariano did not join practice on Thursday as he had to complete his medical examination, which he passed at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital.

After a season in France, the forward will return to Real Madrid, where he played between 2011 and 2017 on the Whites' C, B and La Liga teams.