Yan Diomande sets sights on Real Madrid success after dream move from RB Leipzig

Yan Diomande says joining Real Madrid fulfils a childhood ambition and has promised to help the club “win everything” after completing his move from RB Leipzig.

The 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger is the latest and most prominent signing made by Real Madrid during the summer transfer window, arriving in the Spanish capital after an impressive campaign in Germany.

Diomande established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s leading young talents last season and was named the league’s best young player. He has now swapped life at RB Leipzig for a place in the Real Madrid dressing room, where he will share a squad with players he previously watched on television.

“I was watching them on television, and today I am sharing the dressing room with them. It is unbelievable,” Diomande told Real Madrid’s official television channel, in comments reported by Spanish newspaper AS.

The Ivory Coast international made no attempt to hide his delight at wearing the Real Madrid shirt, describing the transfer as the realisation of one of his earliest ambitions.

“I am proud and happy because this was my dream. When I was a child, I wanted to play for the biggest clubs in the world. I am grateful to be here, and happy and proud of this step. I want to make my family proud of me,” he said.

“This is the biggest club in the world, and everyone wants to come here. I am grateful to be here, and I want to share my happiness with everyone. I want to be part of the team’s victories.”

Diomande also acknowledged the influence of Jose Mourinho in helping the move happen, revealing that he spoke to the manager before the transfer was completed.

“I want to thank the coach, because we spoke before, and I am here thanks to him and, of course, thanks to the club. I am happy. Thank you for this signing, and thank you to the club and the coach for believing in me,” he said.

The teenager recognises that playing for Real Madrid will bring greater pressure and more demanding expectations than he faced in his previous experiences. However, he believes those challenges are inevitable at a club of such stature.

“It is different. Here everything is more difficult, and that is normal because it is the biggest club in the world. You have to work harder than at any other club to become the best in the world, and that is what I am trying to do,” Diomande said.

He described himself as a naturally reserved person and said he would take time to understand the group before making his full contribution.

“I am a little shy when it comes to speaking, and I want to learn the team’s dynamics so that I can help it achieve a lot of success together,” he added.

Asked why he chose Real Madrid, Diomande gave a brief answer that reflected the importance of the opportunity.

“Because it is the best club in the world. When Real Madrid calls you, you cannot say no. It is as simple as that.”

Diomande is not satisfied simply to have fulfilled his dream of joining the club. He wants to make an immediate impact and help Real Madrid compete for every available trophy.

“I want to achieve a lot of success with the club and help the team win everything. I am very happy to be here, and I hope to achieve a lot of success with the team. Hala Madrid!” he said.