After his first appearance: Cristiano Ronaldo fulfils the dream of a Real Madrid player

"The Don" expressed his support for Real Madrid's new player

Yan Diomande lived out a dream after making his official Real Madrid debut. Cristiano Ronaldo followed the young Ivorian on Instagram, capping a moment the former Leipzig man never imagined possible.

TNT Sports posted a childhood photo of Diomande wearing a Manchester United shirt with Ronaldo's name scrawled across the back in his own hand.

Ronaldo, the network pointed out, had been Diomande's idol growing up. Now the youngster finds himself at the club where the Portuguese built so much of his legacy.

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At 19, Diomande lit up the 2025-2026 season with Leipzig. He scored 13 goals and set up 10 more across 36 matches in all competitions, and was named the Bundesliga's best young player.

Real Madrid confirmed the signing of the Ivorian winger from Leipzig on a seven-season deal running until 30 June 2033. Major reports suggest it could become the most expensive transfer in the club's history, worth around 125 million euros before add-ons.

Fresh from shining with Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, Diomande is now one of the brightest young talents at the heart of the Royal club's new project under Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.