Yan Diomande has opened up about his move to Real Madrid, his first conversations with José Mourinho, his ambitions to become one of the best players in the world, and the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba in an extensive interview with SportyTV.
For Diomande, arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu represents the realization of a long-held ambition. The winger described Real Madrid as his new home and said he is already thinking about scoring his first goal at the renovated Bernabéu.
“Yes,
this is my new home. I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to be part of the team. I’ve been waiting for a long time; this has been my dream, and it happened. I’m happy to be here. I’ve never been inside since they built the new stadium. I’m excited to score my first goal, of course.”
Asked about his emotions after completing the move, Diomande reiterated the significance of joining Madrid.
“First of all, I’m very proud, and happy, of course. It’s a dream come true, so I’m happy.”
The move has not altered Diomande’s long-term ambitions. He said his objective remains to establish himself among the world’s best players and emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence as he works toward that goal.
“Of course, I still want to be one of the best players in the world. And that was my idea from the beginning, and it never changed. So I keep working, and I keep pursuing my dream every day. I also feel very confident. You have to be confident. Yes, you have to be confident. You have to be happy, of course, but I’m confident, and I’m working towards that.”
Diomande also recalled the moment Real Madrid’s interest became concrete. He first spoke with chief scout Juni Calafat before receiving a call from Mourinho, who surprised him by speaking French. According to Diomande, Mourinho called him at around five in the morning while the Portuguese coach was in Portugal.
“It was like a dream, because there’s no bigger club than Real Madrid. You know, when Real Madrid comes and says, “We want you,” it’s like a dream. And I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t believe it. And today I’m here, I’m incredibly happy and proud. First, I spoke with the director, Juni (Calafat), and then I spoke with the manager (Mourinho), of course. And I was surprised because he speaks French. I think it was five in the morning in Portugal, and he woke me up to talk to me. He told me it was important. And I said, “Why not?” It’s Real Madrid, and when Real Madrid calls you, you’re not going to say no. And I told him, “If you want me to come, of course I’ll come.” He’s a friend and a boss.”
Mourinho’s personality was another recurring subject. Diomande believes working under the Portuguese coach can be particularly valuable at this stage of his career, both in keeping him focused and helping his development.
“He told me, “You’re part of my team, and you’re here, so I’m happy.” I told him, “I’m happy to be part of your team, and I want to work with you because it’s the best club.” He has a lot of personality, of course, which is good for us because sometimes when you’re young, you’re a bit scattered, and sometimes you lose focus. I think he’s a good coach for me to continue my development as a young player.”
Diomande also reflected on the unusual path that has taken him to Madrid. His first professional appearance came against Real Madrid; now, he represents the club himself. He attributes that journey in large part to his faith.
“I believe it’s God. It’s God because I believe in God very much, and I’m African, so in Africa we believe in God, and I personally believe in God very much. And what a coincidence, because my first professional match was against Real Madrid, and today I’m playing for Real Madrid. So, as I said, I’m happy to be here. I just want to enjoy playing football, because it’s the only thing I know. I want to enjoy playing football every day.”
That first encounter with Madrid also produced a memory involving Kylian Mbappé. Diomande exchanged shirts with the French star and now finds himself sharing a dressing room with him.
“I swapped jerseys with Mbappé. Today we’re in the same place and together. It’s crazy. Incredible.”
Diomande was also keen to recognize Leganés and the role the club played in his development, crediting them with providing the opportunity that allowed him to demonstrate his talent.
“I will never forget Leganés because it was the only club that gave me the opportunity to showcase my talent, before any other club. I am grateful to have been part of the club. I am happy and thankful to them.”
Looking back on his journey from Africa and the decisions that brought him to this point, Diomande described the experience as something he has enjoyed despite the challenges involved.
“Yes. It was a good decision. For me, it was fun because I was young. It was fun as an African kid because you don’t get the chance to travel much. Today I’m here. I’ll never forget my career. I’m happy and proud of myself.”
The winger has also received advice from two of Ivory Coast’s most prominent footballing figures, Yaya Touré and Didier Drogba. Diomande revealed that he had recently spoken with Drogba, who knows Mourinho well from their successful years together at Chelsea.
“Of course, the icons of my country, like Yaya Touré and Drogba. I’m not in contact with Yaya Touré, but I spoke with Drogba two days ago. He told me that Mourinho was like a father to me. He said I had to work hard. And Drogba is a good guy. And of course you’re going to listen to him because he was a legend and still is. You have to listen to him. And it’s good to have conversations with them because I get a lot of motivation from them, so they’re pushing me to work to become a legend too.”
Diomande then gave an emphatic response when asked about the loyalty Mourinho inspires in his players.
“Of course. If you play for Mourinho, you want to die for Mourinho, of course. You know his character and what he’s like. Everyone wants to die for him. We’re ready to die for him.”
Joining Madrid also means training and playing alongside some of the world’s leading players. Diomande sees that environment as an opportunity to raise his own level and is looking forward to his first appearance alongside his new teammates.
“Of course. It’s always good to play against great players because it’s beneficial. Playing against them or playing with them makes you improve in every way. You want to be the best. It’s going to be special for me to play my first match. To start my first match, of course, with them. They are the best players in the world. It’s exciting to play with them.”
Diomande acknowledged that he is still getting to know the squad. Vinícius Júnior is the teammate he has had the most contact with so far, while his shared language with Mbappé could also help him settle.
“No, because I’m new. I need more time, maybe. But no. The only person I’m in contact with is Vinicius. I’ve spoken to Vinicius before. I think we’ll become closer soon. Mbappé too, of course, because we speak the same language. But Vinicius is closer.”
There is another Real Madrid connection that makes the move particularly meaningful for Diomande: Cristiano Ronaldo. The winger named Ronaldo as his idol and described the feeling of now representing the same club where the Portuguese forward became a Madrid legend.
“Everyone knows it. Cristiano Ronaldo is my idol. He still is. It’s crazy. Today I’m playing for Real Madrid. Even when I’m going to training, I can look at this picture. I’m proud to play for the club where my idol played. It’s a dream. I’m not from Madrid, but it’s like a dream. I can’t believe it.”
Diomande also discussed his experience at the World Cup, where he became the youngest player from his country to appear in the competition. He views the tournament as another important step in his development.
“The World Cup was a good experience. My first. We didn’t expect to get there. But for me, it was a good experience. It was a great tournament. I think we have the potential to do better. We’ll see what happens next time. I was the youngest player to ever play in the World Cup for my country. That made me proud and motivated me to work hard to win more.”
Finally, Diomande spoke about the influence of his sister and the expectations accompanying his transfer. Despite the size of the fee and the attention surrounding his arrival, he insists he does not feel burdened by pressure. Instead, he views Real Madrid’s investment as evidence of the club’s belief in him.
“My sister pushed me not to give up. I’ve known my sister for a long time. We talk about many things. It was the perfect moment to share my story with people, with the world. As I said, she pushes me not to give up and to keep working hard to achieve my dream. I believe that if I achieve everything, she will be happy. There is no bigger club than Real Madrid. They paid a lot of money. People are waiting for me. But I don’t feel any pressure. I have a good team. They paid a lot of money because they believe in me. Why would I be scared? I don’t feel any pressure. I’m going to do what I can on the field. Control what I can. God will do the rest.”
