Diomande feels no pressure after record transfer
Yan Diomande joined Real Madrid for a fee capable of disrupting the sleep of most 19-year-olds. The Ivorian, however, sees it differently. He does not view the price as a burden. To him, it is proof that the club genuinely believes in his ability.
Reports indicate that Real Madrid paid RB Leipzig a guaranteed €125 million, with another €15 million potentially due in bonuses. It is the largest fixed transfer fee in the club’s history. Diomande signed a contract running until June 2033, making it clear that Madrid did not recruit him as a short-term experiment. The club expects him to become an important part of its attack for years.
The young winger discussed the move during an interview with SportyTV and was asked about the pressure created by such an enormous fee.
“I feel no pressure. Why should I be scared? If they spent a lot of money on me, that means they believe in me,” Diomande said.
It is a confident response, but also a sensible one. The fee was negotiated by Real Madrid and RB Leipzig, not by the player. Diomande will not suddenly run faster because another zero has appeared next to his name. His task is to continue doing what earned him the move: attack defenders, use his speed and take opponents on without hesitation.
The story of his first conversation with José Mourinho was equally revealing. The Portuguese coach called him at around five in the morning local time and began speaking in French. Diomande admitted he was surprised. Mourinho waking up at that hour to speak to him personally made the winger feel that he occupied an important place in the coach’s plans.
Mourinho had already made his first move before the pair shared a training pitch. There was no need for an elaborate presentation or a grand speech. A phone call at a ridiculous hour and a few words in the player’s language were enough. Diomande received a clear message: the manager knew exactly whom he wanted and intended to oversee his development personally.
The Ivorian believes Mourinho is the right coach for this stage of his career. He acknowledged that young footballers can occasionally lose focus and benefit from working under someone who establishes firm rules. Mourinho certainly possesses the personality required to keep a team under control, and Diomande appears ready to embrace that structure.
The 19-year-old did not need much time to consider Madrid’s proposal. In his words, when Real Madrid call, saying no is not really an option. Now comes the difficult part: demonstrating on the pitch why the club chose to break its transfer record for him.
His first comments carry plenty of confidence. There is no false modesty, no attempt to escape the size of the fee and no claim that he is unaware of it. Diomande knows exactly how much Madrid paid. He simply refuses to let the number play football for him.
Source: SportyTV / Managing Madrid
