Ivorian winger has the potential to instantly impact the current squad
Real Madrid are interested in signing RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. They are currently in talks with the club to bring the 19-year-old winger, who is also on Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool’s radar, to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Diomande will be a Madrid signing designed to plug the obvious hole on the right side of their attack, where Rodrygo, Franco Mastanuono and Brahim Diaz have been variously tried to less than satisfactory results. Sometimes the coach, whether Xabi Alonso or Alvaro Arbeloa, has tried to solve that problem with a 4-4-2 formation, but this is still less than ideal and keeps Madrid far too narrow for their liking.
If he arrives, Diomande will bring his speed, zig-zagging runs and technical ability to the right-hand side, in a similar way to Vinicius Junior (or Kylian Mbappe, should the Brazilian leave) on the left. In the Bundesliga last season, no players attempted to take on a defender more than Diomande, and his success rate was the highest of any winger in Europe with up to 50 take-on attempts.
Madrid have at times struggled with a left-wing bias due to the imbalance of quality in their attack. With Mbappe and Vinicius regularly combining on that flank, the ball tends to get channelled into that area, which can offer make the game easier for opposing defenders. Adding another naturally aggressive dribbler to the other flank would provide greater balance and tactical flexibility.
Diomande’s speed and dribbling also makes him well suited for Madrid’s counter-attacking style. He is comfortable carrying the ball over long distances and with his pace he will exploit space behind defensive lines. He is also unpredictable in attack, able to move smoothly from running to passing or shooting in one fluid movement, and he can do so with either foot.
Madrid may or may not be able to land Diomande this summer, but you can the idea and the value he instantly brings to the squad.
