Borja Mayoral admits he'd still be with Real Madrid if not for their signing of Mariano Diaz.

Mariano joined from Lyon in the same week Mayoral left for Levante.

"I think I would still be at Real Madrid if Mariano did not arrive," he said at a press conference with his new club.

"I spoke with Julen Lopetegui two weeks earlier and he told me he wanted me to stay.

"Anything can happen and, in the transfer market, two weeks is an eternity."

Mayoral ended up securing a season-long loan to Levante and he confirmed that the Valencian club beat out several others for his services.

"I had the option of going to Sevilla, Alaves or Levante," he said.

"Everything happened so fast that you have to decide quickly.

"I saw that Levante began the season well and that they played with two forwards, but I've also been speaking with the coach since June and they showed interest in me.

"Everything pointed at me staying with Real Madrid, but the last week changed everything."