Ivory Coast star Nicolas Pepe urges patience and support for Real Madrid attacker Yan Diomande

Ivory Coast international Nicolas Pepe has called for patience and support for his compatriot Yan Diomande amid growing pressure at Real Madrid.

Diomande secured a high-profile move in the summer, joining Real Madrid for a record transfer fee from German outfit RB Leipzig.

Since joining the club, Diomande has yet to hit the ground running. Fortunately for him, the attacker emerged as the hero on Saturday after netting his first goal to snatch an important home victory over Villarreal in the La Liga.

Speaking in an interview with DAZN, the former Arsenal winger drew parallels between Diomandé’s situation and his own experience in England, where he struggled with the expectations that followed his move from Lille in 2019 for a then club-record fee.

Pepe admitted that he was uncomfortable with the constant attention surrounding his transfer and believes Diomande deserves the same understanding as he adjusts to the demands of playing at the highest level.

“When I arrived at Arsenal as the club’s most expensive signing ever, I didn’t really like it when people came up to me to talk about it. I put myself in his shoes and told myself that it wasn’t the right time to be talking about that,” Pepe said.

The Ivorian forward stressed that the pressure surrounding Diomande has become excessive, warning that the young attacker needs room to learn from his experiences and establish himself at Real Madrid.

Pepe also assured the youngster of the support he can expect from experienced players within the Ivory Coast national team, emphasising the importance of guidance as he continues his development.

“Right now, there’s far too much pressure. We’ll be there to support him in the national team. Alongside coach Hervé Renard, we former players are here to advise him. But for now, it’s really a case of letting him get on with it and learn,” he added.

Having experienced the demands associated with being a club’s most expensive signing, Pepe understands the challenges that can accompany a high-profile transfer, particularly when expectations are elevated before a player has had sufficient time to settle.

Since joining Real Madrid, the 19-year-old forward has made nine appearances across competitions, scoring one goal and providing an assist across the period.