Mariano turns down Benfica for a second time

Despite signing Darwin Nunez, the most expensive transfer in the Portuguese league (25 million euros), Benfica have not given up on Mariano, who they are trying to get to bolster their attack. 

However, it does not seem like it will be easy to get the Spanish-Dominican to leave the Bernabeu. He earns more than four million euros a season there and he will not accept a lower salary.

'A Bola' says that Mariano has turned down Benfica for a second time because they were not offering him the same amount of money as he is currently getting at Real Madrid. However, Benfica cannot offer so much as they are not one of the European clubs with the most amount of money.

Mariano returned to training recently. But Zidane does not count on him and he has shown this in previous seasons. Mariano has done next to nothing (apart from his goal versus Barca) since re-joining 'Los Blancos' from Lyon.

Benfica, who have an agreement with Real Madrid to take the player out on loan, are not going to give in, at least for now. Even though the transfer window is closing soon, Mariano knows that and he could accept a lower offer if Benfica come calling a third time.