Olympique Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas has thanked Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema for the arrival of Mariano Diaz.

Aulas revealed Benzema recommended the former Real striker to him over the summer.

"Mariano is great, he has shown what he has already demonstrated: a great physical commitment, a willingness to reach the top," said Aulas.

"He also has the ability to play in small spaces even though everyone said he did not know how. Football can show one thing one day and the next day the opposite. I thank who told us in Madrid (Karim Benzema) he was the player that we had to sign."

Mariano has now scored seven goals in nine Ligue 1 games.