Real Madrid News
Mourinho’s decisive role in Real Madrid beating PSG and Liverpool to €140 million signing – report
Real Madrid have officially announced their sixth signing of the summer, Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, for €140 million including bonuses.
Los Blancos have been in negotiations with the Bundesliga club for the player for a couple of weeks now, with Diomande emerging as a priority target.
Now, according to The Athletic (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Jose Mourinho’s influence proved decisive in Real Madrid’s successful pursuit of Yan Diomande.
The Portuguese tactician played a crucial role in helping the club beat competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool for one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.
Mourinho personally intervened during negotiations, using his reputation and relationship-building skills to convince the 19-year-old that Real Madrid were the right destination.
Mourinho’s personal touch
The report states that Mourinho held a conversation with Diomande in fluent French during the early stages of negotiations.
The discussion is said to have had a significant impact on the winger, who was also presented with a Real Madrid shirt as part of the club’s efforts to make him feel wanted.
Those gestures reportedly helped tip the scales in Real Madrid’s favour despite interest from several European heavyweights.
Although the transfer was delayed by legal issues involving the player’s representatives, the sporting side of the deal progressed remarkably quickly.
Diomande had already agreed personal terms with Real Madrid just one day after news of the club’s interest first emerged.
Having been linked with Liverpool very early in the summer and PSG for most of it, Real Madrid quickly hijacked the deal.
Typical Mourinho
This transfer saga provides the perfect insight into Mourinho’s growing influence behind the scenes.
Beyond overseeing pre-season preparations, the Portuguese has played an active role in recruitment, personally helping persuade one of Europe’s brightest young prospects to choose the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mourinho has always been someone who prefers to be hands-on with everything, whether it is transfers or training preparations.
Diomande now arrives in Madrid with a massive price tag on him and the expectations that are bound to follow such a huge fee.
Los Blancos have been very clear that they consider him not only a signing for the present but also one for the future.
Now, having convinced him of the project in the Spanish capital, the responsibility once again lies on Mourinho to integrate him into the first-team setup.
The Portuguese will be keen to form a blockbuster front line with Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Diomande, and this could give Real Madrid one of the most feared attacks in the world.
After a disappointing defeat to Real Betis, Real Madrid returned to winning ways on Tuesday night, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.
It was a tense game for Los Blancos, who had to hold on to their slender advantage in the last stretch of the game and were unable to score more goals after an early flurry that saw them gain a 2-0 advantage.
A worrying trend in front of goal
According to MARCA, Real Madrid lead all of Europe in big chances created with 27, but they also top a far less flattering chart, having squandered 19 of them.
That means Real Madrid are missing seven out of every ten clear opportunities they generate, the worst conversion rate on the continent.
Barcelona follow closely with the same number of chances created but a superior return, having wasted 15.
The issue has become a recurring theme in recent matches. Against Betis, Real Madrid dominated and accumulated three expected goals, including a penalty missed by Kylian Mbappe, yet still contrived to lose.
Against Inter, they again peppered the goal without the necessary precision to kill the game off.
Courtois to the rescue
The victory over Inter owed much to a superb performance from Thibaut Courtois, who produced several crucial saves to preserve the three points.
The two Real Madrid goals bore Mourinho’s trademark, both stemming from high pressing. Mbappe forced an error before finishing off Brahim Diaz’s assist, while Federico Valverde capitalised on hesitation from goalkeeper Josep Martinez.
However, having eased into a 2-0 lead, Real Madrid again passed up chance after chance, allowing Inter back into the contest through Lautaro Martinez’s late goal.
It must be noted Real Madrid had 35.6% possession against Inter ranking among the lowest recorded for the club in the Champions League.
For Mourinho, the ideal is clear: winning by finishing off the chances his side create. If Real Madrid can start converting at a rate befitting their creativity, they will become an even more fearsome proposition.
