Young Ivorian Yan Diomande lived a moment to remember after his official debut for Real Madrid. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo followed him on Instagram, completing a scene the former Leipzig player had never dared dream of.
TNT Sports posted a childhood photo of Diomande wearing a Manchester United shirt with Ronaldo's name written across the back in the young Ivorian's own handwriting.
According to the network, Diomande grew up idolising the former Real Madrid forward. Now he finds himself at the very club where Ronaldo built so much of his legacy.
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At 19, Diomande had shone brightly with Leipzig in the 2025-2026 season, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists in 36 matches across all competitions. He was also crowned best young player in the German league.
Real Madrid officially announced the signing of the Ivorian winger from Leipzig on a seven-season contract running until 30 June 2033. Major reports described the deal as potentially the most expensive in the club's history, worth around 125 million euros before add-ons.
Diomande also caught the eye with Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, and he has become one of the brightest young talents the Spanish club is banking on for its new project under Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.
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