Real Madrid have beaten the big drum. The club has completed the signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window – and the price tag is historic: 125 million euros fixed, plus 15 million in variables. A total of 140 million euros.
Thus, the Ivorian is the most expensive acquisition in Real Madrid’s history.
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But what exactly is Diomande capable of – and why is he worth every penny?
A winger with extreme skills
The right-footed attacker, who masters both legs equally well, was the Bundesliga’s highest-scoring right winger per 90 minutes last season. He can play on both sides – and in the half-spaces. In other words: a flexible, modern attacking player of world class.
The statistics are almost frightening. Diomande is in the 100th percentile (#) for completed dribbles and has a success rate of 85% in individual duels. He combines agility with leg strength and is a constant threat in one-on-one situations. Also in the distribution phase, he is among the very best – 100th percentile for dangerous passing and ball carrying.
But he is not perfect. His aggressive dribbling style puts him in 10th percentile in terms of possession, and in aerial play he is weak – only 14th percentile. Still, he compensates with an intensity in the pressing game that makes him win the ball high up the pitch.
How he fits in with Mourinho
At Real Madrid, it is José Mourinho who will shape the team – and Diomande is built for his system.
On the right flank, he will work with Denzel Dumfries and Fede Valverde. By attracting defenders on his side, he frees up shooting dreams for Kylian Mbappé in the middle.
Should Vinícius Jr. leave the club in this window, Diomande could be moved to left wing – where he could form threesomes with Marc Cucurella and Jude Bellingham. His versatility makes him just as effective in quick transitions as he is in organized attacks against low blocks.
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Ready for the debut – already on Friday
Diomande will be part of the training at Valdebebas from Friday 7 August, and the coaching staff will assess his physical fitness in tactical exercises before deciding whether he will start in the series opener. One thing is for sure: Real Madrid have not brought him in to sit on the bench.
#En percentile, in statistics, is a value that divides a number so that a given percentage of the measurements is less than or equal to the percentile.
