“He has to improve his finishing… assist better… but that will come,” Mourinho said.

MADRID: Real Madrid’s record 140 million euro ($157 million) signing Yan Diomande is beginning to show why the Spanish giants invested so heavily in the young winger, with a series of impressive performances boosting expectations ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with his former club RB Leipzig.

The 19-year-old delivered a standout performance in Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, scoring a spectacular long-range goal and assisting Arda Guler’s opener in what was arguably his best display for the club so far.

Diomande’s performances have started to reflect the potential that convinced Madrid to sign him after his impressive season in Germany and his emergence at Spanish side Leganes.

However, his talent was not the only factor behind the club’s decision to make such a substantial investment.

President Florentino Perez had pledged during his re-election campaign in June to spend a similar amount on a new star as Madrid sought to rebuild after two seasons without a major trophy.

Diomande’s arrival, however, did not address an obvious gap in the squad. Instead, it added another attacking option to a team already featuring several high-profile forwards.

On the same day his transfer was announced, Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior signed a new contract with Los Blancos until 2032.

Madrid had struggled last season to find the right balance with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius playing together. Integrating another attacking star carrying a record transfer fee was always likely to require time.

As a result, Diomande has been working to establish himself in the Spanish capital while adapting to the expectations that come with playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Vinicius Suspension Opens Door for Diomande

Diomande scored his first goal for Real Madrid against Villarreal on October 10, helping the team secure a 1-0 victory.

However, Vinicius’ dismissal later in the match and subsequent four-match suspension became a major talking point, while also creating an opportunity for the young winger to secure more playing time.

Diomande started on the left wing in Sunday’s victory over Sevilla and produced an impressive display, finding the net with a powerful long-range strike in the closing stages.

He also assisted Guler’s opening goal, further strengthening his case for a regular place in the team.

The winger has now registered two goals and three assists in 11 appearances across all competitions.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho acknowledged that Diomande still had considerable room for improvement but praised his progress.

“He has a lot to improve, he’s young, he’s still naive, he’s still not the finished article,” Mourinho said on Sunday.

“At Real Madrid, the demands are very high… but he had a great game, he’s growing.”

Diomande Draws Motivation From Personal Tragedy

Diomande’s journey to Real Madrid has included setbacks and personal tragedy, experiences that he says have helped shape his determination to succeed.

After leaving Ivory Coast to attend school in Florida in the United States, the winger struggled to secure opportunities with Major League Soccer clubs Charlotte FC and Colorado Rapids.

His senior debut eventually came with Leganes against Real Madrid in March 2025. He scored twice in 10 appearances for the club, performances that helped earn him a move to Germany.

At RB Leipzig, Diomande contributed 12 goals and eight assists as the club secured Champions League qualification. He was also named Bundesliga Rookie of the Year before completing his move to Madrid.

The winger has spoken publicly about the death of his sister, Roxane, who died at the age of 15 in 2025 after her drink was spiked, according to an open letter he published in June through The Players’ Tribune.

In the letter, Diomande recalled how his sister believed he could become one of the world’s greatest footballers, even when others doubted him.

“You were the one who always believed that I could be the next Cristiano (Ronaldo), when everybody else laughed,” he wrote.

“You were telling everybody, ‘My brother is going to be the greatest in the world’. I will prove that you were right, or I will die trying.”

Mourinho Sees Room for Further Growth

At Real Madrid, Diomande now has an opportunity to fulfil those ambitions, although Mourinho has stressed that the teenager must continue improving his finishing and ability to create goals for teammates.

“He has to improve his finishing… assist better… but that will come,” Mourinho said.

The coach also pointed to Vinicius as an example of how a young player can develop after initially struggling to meet expectations at Madrid.

“I remember when Vinicius arrived (and struggled), and in two or three years Vinicius was a top drawer player,” Mourinho added.

With Vinicius available for European competition, Diomande will be hoping to earn another opportunity against Leipzig on Wednesday.

The Champions League fixture offers the young winger a chance to face his former club as Real Madrid seek a third consecutive victory in the competition and he continues his effort to establish himself among the team’s leading attacking players.