A goal and an assist in 17 minutes against RB Leipzig (4-1): Ivorian winger Yan Diomandé stole the show in the Champions League with Real Madrid and received public backing from Kylian Mbappé.
Yan Diomandé did not need ninety minutes to catch the eye of the whole of Real Madrid. On Wednesday evening, on matchday 3 of the Champions League league phase, the 19-year-old Ivorian winger registered a goal and an assist in just 17 minutes on the pitch, according to AfricaFoot. Real Madrid won 4-1 against RB Leipzig, according to Mountakhab.net.
The gesture did not go unnoticed. Under a social media post by the youngster, Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid and France forward, reacted publicly with a terse “MON BON PETIT”, reports Afrik-Foot. A major show of support for a player signed last summer for €140 million from RB Leipzig, a transfer that made him the most expensive African player in football history.
Mbappé gives his seal of approval, the press goes wild
The French forward’s message, as brief as it was glowing, was picked up by Afrik-Foot. Diomandé’s performance comes at just the right time for a player who had been asking for playing time.
The Madrid press, cited by Afrik-Foot, believes the Ivorian “is kicking the door down” to shake up the attacking hierarchy and threaten Vinícius Júnior’s starting place on the left flank.
Madrid’s attacking logjam
The saga is nothing new. Before the match, Ivory Coast head coach Hervé Renard had laid out the problem: “It is no secret to anyone that his favourite position is the left wing. At Real Madrid, on the left, there is Vinícius; on the right, Güler and Díaz; and up front, Kylian Mbappé and Bellingham.”
In this competition, Diomandé has chosen the path of patience. The player himself had asked for time and rejected the “superstar” label, insisting he continues to work hard despite limited playing time under head coach José Mourinho, reports Afrik-Foot.
On the international stage, he already has several caps for Ivory Coast, where he enjoys Hervé Renard’s trust after playing at the 2026 World Cup.
The Clasico in his sights
The question now gripping Madrid is simple: will Diomandé start on Sunday 25 October, in the Liga Clasico against FC Barcelona? Nothing at this stage allows an answer, and nothing suggests Mourinho intends to change his starting XI for that fixture.
Real Madrid face FC Barcelona on Sunday 25 October in La Liga, a match that will provide the next opportunity to judge his coach’s choices.