Ivorian winger Yan Diomande has named Cristiano Ronaldo, the Al Nassr forward, as the legend he would most like to see return to Real Madrid. The 19-year-old, signed last summer, is gradually establishing himself on the Madrid left wing.
Asked which Madrid legend he would like to see play for Real Madrid again, Yan Diomande did not hesitate. “If I could bring one Real Madrid legend to play in the team now? Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, my idol,” said the Ivorian international winger, according to Madrid Universal. It was a wish expressed in an interview.
A €140m transfer and a Ballon d’Or clause
Real Madrid paid a package worth €140 million to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig last summer, according to Madrid Universal. The German club demanded the inclusion of a Ballon d’Or-related clause in the transfer.
In recent weeks, Diomande has established himself on the left wing, with a noticeable defensive commitment to support Marc Cucurella, Real Madrid’s left-back.
For his part, Ronaldo scored 450 goals in 438 matches for Real and won four Champions Leagues in nine years.
From Yopougon to the AFI Academy
Yan Diomande grew up in the Sicogi district of Yopougon, in north-west Abidjan, raised by his mother and his sister Roxane after his father left for France, according to AS. He was spotted at the age of 10 by Dez Bamba, a scout and promoter, then trained at the Academia AFI Sud Comoé in Assouba, run by the Spaniard José Julián López, the academy’s director.
His coaches had to teach him to pause and read the game, because he used to dribble past the entire opposing team from his own penalty area. As a child, he was nicknamed “Roberto Carlos”.
He says he does not like losing: “I identified with that because I didn’t like losing either. I’m a bad loser. I cried every time I lost,” he told Madrid Universal.
A place in the rotation on the left wing
Real Madrid’s next match, whether in La Liga or the Champions League, should see Diomande in the rotation on the left wing. The club is currently competing in both competitions.
His wish to see Cristiano Ronaldo back at the club remains an interview statement; on the pitch, the young Ivorian must now confirm his place on the left wing.