Yan Diomande reflects on journey from Abidjan to Real Madrid
Real Madrid made up to six signings in the recently-closed summer transfer window to reinforce all the areas of their team, barring the goalkeeper. Among these six new players, the forward Yan Diomande would arguably be the one who excites the fans the most.
The Ivorian has made the jump to the biggest football club in Europe at only 19 years of age. However, this journey to the pinnacle of football has not been easy for the youngster, who has had to make a lot of sacrifices to reach this point.
As MARCA has reported, Diomande appeared in an introductory interview as he became a Red Bull Athlete, and in this interview, he recalled his roller-coaster ride of a career. The forward believed his roots in Ivory Coast ultimately helped him become the player he is today:
“Growing up in Abidjan meant that football was everything. We played on any surface we could find, without proper boots or a proper pitch, simply out of love for football. That hunger and that joy never left me; they are still the foundation of how I play today.”
A major breakthrough in Diomande’s career arrived when he moved to the USA:
“It was always the dream, but it started to feel real when I was at DME Academy in Florida and European scouts began to take notice of me.”
“It was difficult. At first, I couldn’t communicate with anyone and everything was different. But football was my language, and my teammates helped me find my place both on and off the pitch.”
Then his first season in the Bundesliga, when he shone for RB Leipzig, gave him the prominence and experience needed to get the attention of a giant like Real Madrid:
“Winning the Bundesliga Best Rookie award in my first full season. It was proof that all the sacrifices my family and I had made were worth it.”
“Leipzig taught me to compete at the highest level week after week, and the coaching staff demanded that I improve every detail of my game. That season gave me the confidence and mentality I will need at Real Madrid.”
The Ivorian was quite clear about what the Merengue club means for him:
“It is the fulfilment of a childhood dream; it is everything I have worked for… I’m looking forward to writing my chapter at this club and contributing to its success.”
The forward opened up on what it is like to train with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe every day:
“It’s incredible. At every training session, the bar is set so high that you have no choice but to raise your own level… You learn something just by watching how they move, how they think and how they prepare every day.”
Lastly, Diomande opened up on how he is as a person:
“I’m quite a calm person. I love spending time with my family and friends, listening to music and calling home, to Abidjan… Maintaining that connection with the place I come from keeps me grounded.”
Despite the successes he has had in his career so far, there is no doubt that this move to Real Madrid would bring him the biggest professional challenge for Yan Diomande. Hopefully, he will rise to the demands of the Merengue club, and help the team achieve its objectives for the season, i.e., winning all the big trophies.
