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Real Madrid to sign Diomandé for €130M, shocking Spanish media
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Real Madrid is on the verge of signing Ivorian midfielder Yan Diomandé from RB Leipzig for a fee of €130 million, a deal that has sparked surprise and criticism in the Spanish sports media. While the move is seen as a victory over PSG, which also pursued the player, pundits question the high price for a relatively unknown player who only recently emerged. Journalist Gonzalo Miró expressed fury that Real Madrid would let Vinicius Jr. be replaced by Diomandé, while others point to the influence of agent Roc Nation, which represents both players. Critics argue the world of football has gone mad, but Real Madrid remains confident in Diomandé's potential.
Source report
Barring another turnaround, Yan Diomandé will soon become a Real Madrid player. The €130 million transfer has raised eyebrows across Spain.
By Dahbia Hattabi Published: 07/28 - 16:10 | Reading time: 2 min.
The Spanish sports press has a reputation for swift reversals, and this case is no exception. Just yesterday, several media outlets celebrated after learning that Yan Diomandé chose Real Madrid over Paris Saint-Germain, a club that had pursued him for weeks. Across the Pyrenees, this was seen as a major victory for the Merengues over the double Champions League winners.
According to Sky Germany and The Athletic, the deal is not yet fully finalized, but the €130 million operation is entering its final phase. It is expected to be only a matter of days before the Ivorian—who is waiting for a full agreement to undergo his medical—dons the Real Madrid jersey.
Criticism Mounts Over the Price Tag
Once the euphoria of beating PSG subsided, critical voices began to emerge, questioning the cost of the transfer.
Gonzalo Miró, speaking on COPE, said:
"Just ten days ago, he was completely unknown to the general public. Now he has such a market value. His price exploded because he was the subject of a real battle between the five or six teams capable of affording him."
Miró also expressed surprise that Diomandé is being discussed as a replacement for Vinicius Jr., who at his best is a Ballon d'Or candidate.
Siro Lopez, also on COPE, raised questions about the role of player agents—specifically Roc Nation:
"Real Madrid plays chess and, curiously, Diomandé and Vinicius's agents are the same."
Roberto Gomez, writing for El Desmarque, praised the representatives for securing such a deal for a player who still has much to prove and was not a priority for Mourinho:
"We should rather recruit his agent."
Mati Prats, his colleague at the same outlet, believes Madridistas will overpay:
"The world of football has gone mad."
A High-Stakes Investment
Yan Diomandé's price is clearly causing concern in Spain. However, Real Madrid appears convinced by his talent and potential. It remains to be seen whether this investment will pay off for the Santiago Bernabéu club and for Florentino Pérez, who has a great deal at stake in this matter.
Published: 07/28/2026 16:10 | Updated: 07/28/2026 16:13 Comments: 1
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- Yan Diomandé
Source
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertWestern
Part of this Story
Real Madrid Leads Race to Sign RB Leipzig Winger Diomande for €120M