Yan Diomande, Ivory Coast and RB Leipzig player
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
After lengthy negotiations and multiple delays, Real Madrid finally announced the signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig on Thursday.
The 19-year-old winger has signed a lengthy seven-year contract with Los Blancos until 2033, indicating the club’s faith in long-term potential.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid shelled out a massive sum of €125 million for the Ivory Coast international, with another €15 million set to be paid in performance-related add-ons.
If all those variables are achieved, Diomande would become the most expensive player in the history of Real Madrid.
Diomande arrived in Madrid yesterday for his medicals and official contract signing. Following that, it was expected that he would train under Jose Mourinho today and be included in the squad list for the trip to Hungary to face Ferencvaros.
Yan Diomande, Ivory Coast and RB Leipzig player
Diomande did not train with Real Madrid today. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
However, according to Melchor Ruiz of COPE, the teenage forward did not train with his new Real Madrid teammates today.
While Diomande did successfully complete his medicals, as things stand, it is understood that he is not scheduled to travel with the rest of the squad to Hungary for the friendly against Ferencvaros.
As such, fans will have to wait for a little while longer to see Diomande in action in the royal white jersey of Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have shown that they are not shy of splashing the big bucks for youngsters with potential in the past.
Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig
A record signing from Real Madrid. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
The likes of Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick, and more recently Franco Mastantuono arrived for significant transfer fees when compared to their age and the stage of their careers at that point.
But, with Diomande, Los Blancos have taken a gigantic leap of faith, spending a club-record fee for a 19-year-old with only one full season under his belt at the highest level.
In all, the winger has played less than 50 first-team matches across his spells at RB Leipzig and Leganes prior to that. So, the investment does represent a huge risk on Real Madrid’s part, and only time will tell how things pan out for Diomande.
Rodri of Manchester City
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Real Madrid President, Florentino Perez and FC Barcelona President, Joan Laporta
Perez initially had doubts about signing Rodri. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho, head coach of Real Madrid
Mourinho frustrated. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)