At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid found a decisive answer on the left flank while Vinícius Júnior served a La Liga suspension. Yan Diomande, the 19-year-old Ivory Coast forward signed for €125 million, drove a 4-1 victory over Sevilla on Sunday in the ninth round and had a hand in every Madrid goal.
A landmark afternoon for Diomande
- Diomande set the tone by supplying Arda Güler for Real Madrid’s opening goal.
- He then played a part in the move that ended with Kylian Mbappé scoring Madrid’s second.
- The young forward’s pass later led to the penalty conceded on Mbappé, bringing about the third goal.
- He completed the score himself, striking powerfully from outside the area to make it 4-1.
It was Diomande’s second successive La Liga match with a goal, after he also scored against Villarreal. The display added further weight to an already significant arrival in the Spanish capital: his €125 million transfer made him the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history.
Mourinho urges patience amid wider competition
José Mourinho praised Diomande’s contribution but resisted the temptation to present him as a finished article. With Vinícius absent from league action, the Portuguese coach has another serious option for the left-sided attacking role usually occupied by the Brazilian.
“He has plenty still to learn,” Mourinho said. “He is young, naïve and not yet a complete player, but he played a very good match.”
The coach pointed in particular to Diomande’s choices in the final moments of attacks, an area he believes requires improvement. Mourinho compared the Ivorian’s development to Vinícius’s early period at Real Madrid, when potential had to be shaped by experience and better decisions.
Vinícius’s recent form has drawn criticism, and Diomande’s emergence gives Madrid greater competition in an attacking department that has increasingly been shared among several young talents.
Spanish reaction focuses on work at both ends
The performance was widely viewed in Spain as Diomande’s first truly major night in a Real Madrid shirt. Attention fell not only on his direct role in the four goals, but also on his willingness to recover and contribute defensively.
There was similar praise for Güler, whose influence alongside Diomande was seen as strong enough to make dropping either player difficult after the Sevilla match. Madrid’s balance was also noted, with Diomande operating on the left and Federico Valverde on the right, while the Ivorian’s involvement in build-up play and his long-range finish provided the clearest images of the afternoon.
