Real Madrid News
Yan Diomande already travelling to Spain as Real Madrid official announcement imminent
The Yan Diomande saga has been ongoing for far too long now, and Real Madrid’s negotiations with RB Leipzig have seemingly dragged on much longer than expected.
After weeks of deliberation and discussions despite having a preliminary understanding, the two clubs are now nearing the official agreement.
For the first time now, there is a pulse that Real Madrid’s official announcement regarding Diomande is just around the corner with an agreement finally in place.
On his way to Madrid
As reported by Fabrizio Romano in a recent update, the winger is already on his way to Madrid as matters stand to complete his official signing as a new Real Madrid player.
He will land in the Spanish capital this afternoon after which he will likely immediately travel to the club facilities to finalise his arrival and put pen to paper. The official statement is expected soon as well.
The agreed fee is said to be around €125 million as a fixed fee and an additional €10 million to €15 million in add ons. He will become Real Madrid’s most expensive signing once the deal is made official.
Set to be part of a special trident
The news of Diomande’s confirmed arrival comes at a time when Vinicius Jr.’s contract renewal also appears closed, meaning that he will not be tasked with the need to replace the Brazilian.
Instead, all signs point to the winger sharing the field with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr to form a special trident in the final third – one that could potentially shape the club’s future.
As a pacey menace on the flank, Diomande will perfectly suit Jose Mourinho’s counter-attacking system and be a big asset for the club given how they have suffered without a natural right-winger for a long time.
He will, however, arrive with massive pressure on his shoulders given the expectations set by the transfer fee, especially given that he is arriving in a department that has plagued the club in recent years.
That, needless to say, will be the real test of fire for Diomande and he will look to link up with the manager in pre-season immediately to get started.
Real Madrid’s performance against Real Betis was shambolic, to say the least as the team faced many of the problems that have haunted them over the past couple of years.
But on a night where most of the attackers struggled to create anything of note, Dean Huijsen emerged as a lone bright spark for Los Blancos.
Huijsen keeps his promise
As reported by MARCA, Huijsen was the standout performer for Real Madrid, marshalling the backline with real authority even as the team struggled around him.
There has been a noticeable shift in the young defender’s mentality this season, with the player showing more competitive nature and looking much fiercer.
This is an attitude Huijsen had always promised, having inherited the iconic number four shift from David Alaba, a number he associates with his idols Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro.
“What I do know is that I’ll give everything of myself every day, whether in training or in a game,” he vowed, and at La Cartuja he delivered on that word.
His primary task was neutralising Juan ‘Cucho’ Hernandez, and he did so superbly, drying up the Colombian’s supply and repeatedly anticipating danger.
He also held his own in a niggly battle with Antony, refusing to be ruffled by one of Betis’ most inspired performers.
His composure on the ball, one of the qualities that has elevated him, saw him venture forward, forcing a fine save from the goalkeeper in the 11th minute and later heading against the woodwork.
The Konate partnership grows
Alongside him, Ibrahima Konate did his job, albeit without matching his partner’s brilliance.
The Frenchman was a little less assured, both in and out of possession, reflecting the two speeds of the centre-back pairing.
Huijsen looks settled and increasingly commanding, while Konate is still building the sharpness needed to reach his best in white.
Nonetheless, the partnership is heading in the right direction, and in Huijsen, Real Madrid appear to have unearthed a genuine leader for an area that has long been a weakness.
Each performance is also an argument to Luis de la Fuente, as the defender looks to reclaim the Spain spot he lost before the World Cup.
