Borja Jiménez says Yan Diomande showed things in his first training session that he had rarely seen before. He also believes Real Madrid's new signing can handle the pressure that comes with the move, and that he has the kind of flexibility modern top sides want on either wing.

Jiménez's view of Diomande

Jiménez was blunt about the level he saw early. “Look, the reality is that from the very first training session, we saw things that I had rarely seen before,” he told siempremadrid.com. He added that Diomande produced “the kind of individual talent to do things at just 18 years of age that were on another level”.

The former Leganes coach also said Diomande spent about 70% of his minutes in Germany on the right wing, even if most of his time with his side came on the left. That matters for Madrid because it gives them options, not just a prospect who is fixed to one lane.

The wider picture is encouraging too. Diomande has already logged 295 World Cup minutes across four appearances, with a 7.13 average rating in those matches. Jiménez also said his value has multiplied five or six times since an earlier prediction that it would double or triple.

Diomande's own words on Madrid

Diomande has not sounded overawed by the move. “I am proud and happy because this was my dream,” he told madriduniversal.com. “When I was a child I wanted to play for the biggest clubs in the world.”

He was just as direct about the demand level. “It's different. This is harder. It's normal because it's the biggest club. You need to work harder than in other clubs to be the best in the world,” he said.

That is a fair read of the move. The price tag and the badge bring pressure, but Jiménez's testimony suggests Madrid are not buying a player who needs to be protected from it. They are buying someone he already trusts to deal with it.

Jiménez's strongest point is the one about role and temperament together. Diomande has shown he can do damage from either side, he has already handled serious minutes in international competition, and he has spoken like a player who understands what the shirt means. Madrid asked for that profile, and the first evidence says they may have found it.

Diomande's next appearances in a Madrid shirt will tell the story in public, but the early case is already there, from the first training session at RB Leipzig to the pressure of the Bernabeu.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →