Yan Diomande talks Mourinho, Drogba advice, Real Madrid pressure: ‘I am ready to die for Jose’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid paid big money to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig this summer, bringing in the Ivory Coast winger for Jose Mourinho’s project.

Diomande is coming off an incredible season in the Bundesliga, with the 19-year-old impressing one and all with his skill and trickery.

All this prompted Los Blancos to pay close to €140 million to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The teenager is fully aware of the enormous expectations surrounding him after Madrid invested heavily in his signing.

Diomande: ‘Why will I be scared?’

In an exclusive interview with Sporty TV, Diomande insists that the transfer fee has given him confidence and not created additional pressure for him to perform.

“Real Madrid spent a lot of money on me. People are waiting to see me, but there is no pressure,” Diomande said.

“They spent a lot of money because they believe in me, why will I be scared? I’m not scared, I feel no pressure. I will do what I do, and God will do the rest.”

Real Madrid’s most expensive signing. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)

Asked for a message to the supporters, the winger initially laughed and admitted: “I’m shy.”

“I will give everything for the club, they spent a lot of money on me,” he promised.

Drogba offered Mourinho warning

Diomande also revealed a recent conversation with fellow Ivorian Didier Drogba, who famously enjoyed a special relationship with Mourinho during their time together at Chelsea.

“Didier Drogba and I spoke some days ago,” Diomande explained.

“He told me: ‘Be careful, Mourinho is my dad. You have to work hard, but he’s a good guy.'”

Diomande already seems to understand exactly what Drogba meant.

“When you play for Jose Mourinho, you want to die for him. I am ready to do that,” he said.

Mourinho 5am call made an impression

The youngster recalled being surprised when he first spoke with Mourinho because the Portuguese coach addressed him in French.

More importantly, the timing of the conversation convinced Diomande how much Mourinho wanted him.

Ready to give his all for Mourinho. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

“I think it was 5am in Portugal, he woke up to speak with me, so it means I was important,” Diomande explained.

And once Real Madrid entered the picture, there was little hesitation.

“When Madrid call, you will not say no.”

‘There is no bigger club than Real Madrid’

Diomande described Madrid’s approach as a dream moment.

“When Madrid called me it was like a dream because there is no bigger club than Real Madrid,” he said.

“I could not sleep, I couldn’t believe it. And here I am, super happy and proud,” he concluded.

Diomande’s affection for the Spanish club was already evident from his words, and he is determined to succeed.

Mourinho’s front line includes players like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, apart from Diomande.

The much more experienced superstars should give the Ivory Coast winger a cushion to ease into life in the Spanish capital.

It remains to be seen how Mourinho plans to use Diomande and whether he can replicate his exploits in Madrid.