Yan Diomande expressed great enthusiasm to begin his Real Madrid journey under José Mourinho, confirming his readiness to give everything for the Portuguese manager.
The Ivorian winger joined the Royal Club this summer in one of the transfer window’s biggest deals, after Mourinho personally intervened to convince him to make the move to the Santiago Bernabéu.
What did Diomande say about his transfer to Real Madrid?
Diomande recalled the moment he found out about Real Madrid’s interest, saying: “It felt like a dream because there is no club bigger than Real Madrid. From the moment I knew they were interested, I couldn’t sleep and couldn’t believe what was happening.”
He added: “I spoke first with Juni Calafat, and then I spoke with the manager. I was surprised that he spoke French.”
He continued: “Mourinho woke up at 5:00 AM just to speak with me, and that means I am important to him.”
The Ivorian player carried on: “When Real Madrid calls you, you cannot say no, so I told them: ‘If you want me, I will be there.'”
Diomande revealed Mourinho’s first words to him upon his arrival: “As soon as I arrived, he told me: ‘I promised you that you would be part of my team, and here you are.'”
He concluded: “I told him I am happy to work with him because he is the best. I can learn a lot from him, and he is the right manager for my continued development. I am ready to die for him.”
Transfer Fee and Diomande’s Stats with Leipzig
Diomande shifted his destination to Real Madrid after having been close to joining Paris Saint-Germain—even reaching an agreement on a contract with the French champions until 2031—before Juni Calafat and Mourinho succeeded in convincing him to choose the Royal Club.
Real Madrid paid Leipzig €125 million as a fixed fee, along with €15 million in add-ons, which could raise the total value of the deal to €140 million, making the 19-year-old the most expensive signing in the club’s history in terms of base transfer fee. The player signed a contract running through the summer of 2033.
Leipzig had signed Diomande from Leganés for just €20 million in the summer of 2025, before the Ivorian winger exploded in his sole season in Germany, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists across 36 matches in all competitions, winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award.
