Real Madrid just dropped a mind-blowing €125 million, potentially €140 million with add-ons, on teenage winger Yan Diomande this summer, and get this: the kid has zero starts through four La Liga games this season. After an explosive transfer window bringing in six big new signings, plus Sergio Martinez for the future, everything seemed gravy until the 1-0 loss to Real Betis put the whole squad under the microscope.
Mourinho’s Long Game for the “Explosive” Talent
Questions are flying, especially about Diomande, who was billed as the most explosive signing of the summer. You might be thinking, “What gives?” But according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, Jose Mourinho is sticking to his guns. The plan? Slow integration. Why? Our man Mourinho doesn’t want the massive pressure of that price tag to mess with the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international. I mean, €125 million plus €15 million in add-ons to snag him from RB Leipzig? If all those variables hit, he becomes the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history! That’s a weight no 19-year-old should carry instantly, and Mourinho knows it. He’s making sure Diomande gets eased into the squad, no rushing things at all.
Eighty-Three Minutes and Still Waiting for a Spark
So far this La Liga season, Real Madrid has played four matches, and Diomande hasn’t sniffed a starting XI. Instead, Mourinho’s rolled with Arda Guler on the right wing for three of those games, and Brahim Diaz got the nod for the other one. Diomande? He’s come off the bench in every single game, sure, but he’s only clocked a grand total of 83 minutes. And yeah, you guessed it, zero goals and zero assists to his name yet. But look, this limited run and the slow-and-steady approach are totally part of Mourinho’s strategy. He’s focused on not overexposing his teenage winger, shielding him from all that undue pressure that comes with being the potential record-breaker and trying to deliver instantly on that insane price tag.
What does this mean for Real Madrid moving forward? It means patience, folks. Mourinho isn’t just worried about today’s headlines. He’s clearly playing the long game with Diomande, building him up without breaking him. Every fan will be watching to see when this massive investment finally starts to pay off on the pitch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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