After Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Sevilla, head coach José Mourinho compared Yan Diomandé to Vinícius in his early days, while pointing out what the Ivorian winger still needs to improve.
Yan Diomandé played his part in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Sevilla on matchday 9 of La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu, according to Foot-Africa.com. He set up attacking midfielder Arda Güler in the 30th minute, and the Ivorian international winger then scored his team’s fourth goal in the 82nd minute.
In his post-match press conference, Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho set out to ease the pressure on his young player. The Portuguese compared the Ivorian’s learning curve to that of Vinícius Júnior when he arrived in the Spanish capital. Diomandé was signed for a fee estimated at between €125m and €140m, according to Bookmakers225.
“He’s playing with the number 125 or 130”
Mourinho stressed how much room for improvement the Ivorian still has, despite his decisive display against Sevilla. “He’s young, still naive. He’s an unfinished product. Instead of playing with the number 25, he’s playing with the number 125 or 130, in reference to what was paid for him. He has a huge amount to improve, but he had a great game. He’s progressing. He still has to progress in the final action. He often gets into dangerous areas, but he struggles to lift his head and look at where his teammates are. But it will come!” the coach said, according to Foot-Africa.com.
The Vinícius Júnior precedent
To illustrate his point, the Portuguese leaned on a Real Madrid precedent: “I remember Vinícius very well when he arrived at Real Madrid. Two or three years later, he was a top-level player,” he said, according to Foot-Africa.com.
At 19 years and 338 days old, Diomandé became the youngest Real Madrid player of the 21st century to score and provide an assist in the same La Liga match, according to Foot-Africa.com and Actu Foot. His performance comes as the winger confirms his rise, after a start to the season in which his playing time was handed out sparingly. The match earned Real Madrid three crucial points.
A Clasico in their sights
With the 4-1 win, Real Madrid move onto 21 points and sit right behind Barcelona in the La Liga table. Matchday 10 brings the Clasico against Barcelona, scheduled for next weekend, according to Foot-Africa.com and Afrik-Foot.