Jose Mourinho never shies away from speaking his mind. His latest remarks about one of Real Madrid’s headline acquisitions this summer have added another layer to a transfer already buzzing with intrigue.
The Special One confirmed that he did not ask the club to sign teenage Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, who arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu in a deal that could cost €125 million plus bonuses. The striker nonetheless seems destined for a starring role in Mourinho’s plans.
Moments after Mourinho’s interview was published, Diomande met with Madrid’s media and discussed his excitement about becoming a Real Madrid player.
“I spoke with him [Mourinho] a while ago, and he told me he believed in me. We spoke about the project here at Real Madrid,” Diomande told reporters, per AXN. “He convinced me. I know that working here and improving every day, I can become one of the best strikers in the world.”
How Did We Get Here? Mourinho Says He Never Requested Diomande
Diomande was never Mourinho’s personal priority when it came to this summer’s transfer business. Speaking about his overall recruitment strategy, Mourinho clarified his original wishes were centered around a midfielder and a defender.
“I came after studying the squad and saw there were things to improve,” Mourinho added. “But before anything I wanted to know what ideas the club had, what ideas [president] Florentino Pérez had, and how could we join forces.”
Signing Diomande was one of those joined-forces moments. The 19-year-old wasn’t Mourinho’s preferred option according to his transfer wishlist, but he was someone the club had identified as too talented to ignore. When the chance to acquire Diomande became available, Mourinho bought into the idea.
“I didn’t ask for Yan Diomande, but when I learned he was available I agreed immediately,” Mourinho continued. “You don’t negotiate the age of the player, his potential, what he can give to the squad.”
Mourinho could have stopped there, clearing up any confusion about whether or not he was sold on Diomande. Instead, he drove his point home by listing what he believes are the winger’s biggest assets.
“He is young, he is left-footed, he has great dribbling skills, he can play with both feet, he’s quick,” Mourinho went on. “He scored 12 goals and gave eight assists in the Bundesliga. Fantastic.”
Madrid paid the fees. Diomande agreed to the deal. And while those celebrations were happening thousands of miles away at Santiago Bernabéu, Leipzig was already preparing to sell another of its young stars. Diomande was already being touted as one of Europe’s next superstars before Madrid pulled the trigger. Having turned heads this past season with RB Leipzig, European giants came calling.
Real Madrid Beat the Competition
Diomande had suitors before Madrid got involved. European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Manchester United were said to be watching the winger’s rapid rise with interest. PSG had previously shown interest and reached an agreement with Leipzig to sign Aurelien Tchouameni, who opted against a move to Paris in favor of Madrid. Sources told AXN Sports that Liverpool made a concrete offer for Diomande before Madrid entered the race.
Manchester United were also monitoring the situation and pulled off a shock move from Real Madrid the day before Diomande completed his switch to the Bernabéu. Madrid got involved and got their man. Diomande, who agreed to a seven-year contract keeping him in Madrid until June 20,33, was made official on August 6. It ended weeks of speculation surrounding his future, but it also paved the way for another blockbuster season in the Spanish capital.
Diomande arrives in Madrid as part of Mourinho’s ambitious summer rebuild. Madrid have signed players across key positions, including Ibrahima Konaté and wingers Bernardo Silva and Denzel Dumfries.
The €20 Million Man Becomes A €125 Million Acquisition
This signing is different, however. Diomande represents the potential heir to the crown Madrid is trying to win back from peers like Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Real Madrid secured his services for a club-record fee that could reach €125 million, plus an additional €10 million to €15 million in potential bonuses. That is an astonishing sum for a teenager who only moved to Europe last summer.
Diomande exploded onto the scene with Leipzig during the 20 25-26 season, scoring 12 goals and adding eight assists in the Bundesliga as Leipzig surged up the table. Reuters notes that he ended the campaign with 12 goals and nine assists across the board. Pan Africa Football also noted his dribbling, writing that Diomande recorded 118 successful dribbles in Bundesliga play, reportedly the most in the league.
Real Madrid joining the race was almost too late. Paris Saint-Germain reportedly paid Leganes around €20 million to sign Diomande in 20 25. He would not have been a surprise signing by any stretch, but few would have guessed his stock would skyrocket so quickly. Joining Madrid wasn’t quite Mourinho’s idea of spending money. It was, however, the club president’s, and judging by both parties’ reactions, they are ready to gamble on a teenager many experts compare to Kylian Mbappé.
The pressure is on.
