Mourinho turns Diomande transfer fee into punchline after Real Madrid win

Jose Mourinho joked about the cost of Real Madrid’s signing of Yan Diomande after the Spanish club’s 4-0 victory over Malaga, asking during his post-match news conference: “How much did we pay for him?”

The Portuguese manager was speaking about why Diomande had not started a match since the beginning of the season when he turned the discussion towards the financial details of the Ivory Coast defender’s transfer.

Asked about the player’s continued presence on the substitutes’ bench, Mourinho said: “He has to take things step by step. He has played 20 or 15 or 30 minutes in the three matches. He is hard-working and humble, he wants to learn and improve, and he listens to me and his team-mates. He will definitely improve.”

Mourinho then appeared to search for the exact figure Real Madrid had paid for Diomande, saying: “One hundred and something? 120 or 130, I don’t know how much we paid?”

He repeated the question twice to the media officer sitting beside him, prompting laughter from those in the room.

A video shared from the news conference showed Mourinho asking how much Real Madrid had spent on the player. The manager continued the joke after leaving the room, returning to tease reporters with another question: “So, how much did we pay in the end? What was the amount?”

One journalist replied, laughing: “130 for sure.”

Despite the light-hearted exchange, Mourinho made clear that Diomande’s lack of starts should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in the defender. The 20-year-old has appeared as a substitute in each of Real Madrid’s first three matches, with his playing time varying between 15 and 30 minutes.

Mourinho praised the player’s approach and attitude, describing him as “hard-working and humble”. He also highlighted Diomande’s willingness to learn, develop and follow instructions from both the coaching staff and his team-mates.

The manager said those qualities gave him confidence that Diomande would continue to improve as he receives more opportunities on the pitch.

Diomande has therefore remained involved in the squad despite not yet earning a place in the starting line-up. Mourinho’s comments suggested the defender’s current role is part of a gradual integration process rather than a sign that the club regrets its investment.

The remarks came after Real Madrid recorded a convincing win over Malaga, with Mourinho choosing to focus on the player’s development before adding a humorous twist to the question of his transfer fee.