Herve Renard backs Jose Mourinho’s cautious approach to Real Madrid record signing Yan Diomande

Yan Diomande has appeared in every Real Madrid match since his €125m move from RB Leipzig, but Ivory Coast manager Herve Renard and former international Alain Gouamene believe Jose Mourinho is right to introduce the winger gradually.

The 19-year-old joined Real Madrid on a seven-year contract for €125m, with a further €15m in bonuses. The Spanish club was the only interested party willing to meet RB Leipzig’s asking price, after other major European sides, including Paris Saint-Germain, withdrew amid concerns over the demands of Diomande’s representatives and some members of his entourage.

Diomande became the most expensive African footballer in history, but has so far played a limited role at his new club. Mourinho has not started him in any match.

He played about 25 minutes against Espanyol Barcelona in a 2-1 win on 22 August, Malaga in a 4-0 victory on 30 August and Real Betis in a 1-0 defeat on 4 September. He featured for six minutes in the second round of La Liga against Real Sociedad, a 4-1 win on 26 August, before coming on for 11 minutes against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Mourinho has repeatedly been asked about Diomande’s restricted playing time and has given the same explanation.

“He arrived in recent days, without a single training session. We have to take things step by step with him,” said the former Chelsea manager.

Earlier, Mourinho had urged patience with the Ivory Coast international, saying: “He works well, he works hard. He is humble, open, he listens to me and he listens to his team-mates. He will improve because he has incredible potential.”

Real Madrid face neighbours Rayo Vallecano at Santiago-Bernabeu on Saturday before travelling to Elche on Tuesday. Those matches could offer Diomande an opportunity to earn more minutes.

His club situation has not caused concern for Renard, who will announce his Ivory Coast squad on 16 September. The Elephants are due to play Ghana and Somalia on 24 and 29 September in two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, before facing Cameroon in a friendly in Abidjan on 3 October.

Gouamene, who is based in Abidjan, said he was not surprised by the attention surrounding Diomande’s start to the season. The former Ivory Coast goalkeeper, who won the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations and previously played for Africa Sports, ASEC and Toulouse, worked with Diomande while part of Emerse Fae’s coaching staff.

“He has just over a year and a half of professional football behind him, at Leganes and Leipzig, where he completed his only full season,” Gouamene said. “I do not think he imagined he would be at Real Madrid so soon. He is a player for the future, with room to improve, and he has arrived at a club with a lot of competition. Jose Mourinho is therefore entirely right to take his time.”

Comparisons with Lamine Yamal are inevitable, Gouamene added, but premature.

“Yamal was born in Spain and was trained at Barcelona. Diomande comes from Abidjan and has been in Europe for barely two years,” he said. “He will succeed at Real. It is far too early to draw conclusions.”