A dream come true for the new Madridista star 

Yan Diomande, the Ivorian attacker who recently joined Real Madrid, has broken his silence in his first official interview since arriving at the Santiago Bernabéu. Speaking to the African channel Sporty TV, the player confessed that signing for the Casa Blanca is his biggest dream realized and assured he feels ready to perform under José Mourinho's massive expectations.

Following a meteoric rise that took him from humble CD Leganés to shining in Germany with RB Leipzig, the winger was deeply moved, considering this step as "coming full circle." "I think it's God's doing. I am African, I believe heavily in God, and I just want to enjoy playing football," the footballer stated, acknowledging he is still taking in the magnitude of his transfer.

The attacker did not hide his disbelief at now sharing a dressing room with stars like Kylian Mbappé, with whom he had swapped shirts on his professional debut. "It's crazy, I swapped shirts with him and now we share a dressing room and laugh together," he recalled with a smile.

A late-night phone call that changed everything 

Diomande's transfer to the Merengue squad was orchestrated after a swift move by the sporting direction. It all started with an initial phone call from Juni Calafat, the club's chief scout, who laid the groundwork for the deal and left the player so shocked that he confessed he "couldn't sleep" after hearing of the interest.

However, the definitive move was made by José Mourinho himself. The Portuguese manager personally got involved in the negotiations to convince the young prospect.

The coach contacted him directly, and Diomande didn't hesitate for a second to say 'yes' to his new boss. "If you want me, I'll be there," he replied to the Portuguese tactician. "When Madrid calls you, you don't say no," the attacker acknowledged, highlighting that Mou's strong personality is exactly what he needs to keep his focus at this stage of his career.

Didier Drogba's warning: "Mourinho is my father" 

Before putting pen to paper with the Spanish giants, the winger received advice from one of his country's greatest legends: Didier Drogba. The historic striker, who forged an unbreakable bond with the Portuguese coach during their successful stint at Chelsea, encouraged him to work hard to become a sporting icon.

Drogba warned him, jokingly, that "Mourinho is my father, be careful," making it clear that the demands would be extremely high. In response, Diomande showed he fully grasps his new manager's reputation: "If you play for Mourinho, because of his character and his brilliant career, you want to die for him. Everyone wants to die for him, and I'm ready to die for him."

The non-negotiable goal: To be the best in the world 

Despite his youth and arriving at a team packed with global figures like Vinícius Júnior or Jude Bellingham, Diomande is not intimidated. The Ivorian attacker made it clear he arrives in the capital of Spain with ambitious long-term goals. (Suggested Link: "Real Madrid's challenges under Mourinho in the 2026-27 season").

The winger is well aware that playing alongside the best will force him to raise his game every single day. "I want to be one of the best players in the world, that was my idea from the beginning. I never changed it, and I keep working and chasing my dream every day," he concluded, reaffirming that his rapid rise is no coincidence.

3 Key Takeaways from Diomande's First Interview

1. Total commitment: The Ivorian stated he is ready to "die" for José Mourinho, whom he considers the ideal manager to keep him fully focused.
2. Advice from a legend: Didier Drogba spoke personally with the young winger to warn him about the level of demands and hard work required by the Portuguese boss.
3. Untouched ambition: Despite sharing a dressing room with stars like Mbappé or Vinícius, Yan Diomande's main goal remains becoming the best player in the world.