Yan Diomande is rewarding Jose Mourinho’s faith at Real Madrid, producing three goals and three assists across his four appearances since the international break.
The Ivorian has been more productive than Kylian Mbappe during that period, while his shooting and dribbling statistics also compare favourably with Vinicius Jr.
The turnaround reflects Mourinho’s carefully managed approach to the young attacker, whose €140 million transfer fee (including add-ons) brought considerable expectations.
After an initial period of scrutiny, Diomande is beginning to deliver the decisive contributions Real Madrid hoped for when they signed him.
Jose Mourinho’s plan for Diomande is paying off at Real Madrid
Diomande has emerged as Real Madrid’s most productive player since the international break, registering six goal contributions in just 274 minutes of football.
His recent run includes a goal against Villarreal, an assist against AS Roma, a goal and an assist against Sevilla, and another goal and assist against RB Leipzig.
That consistency has made him one of the standout performers in Mourinho’s attack.
Mbappe has recorded five goal contributions over the same period, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 352 minutes. Arda Guler follows with two goals and two assists in 264 minutes.
Outdoing Mbappe since the international break. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Diomande’s return is particularly significant given the scrutiny surrounding his arrival.
Mourinho recognised his acceleration, explosive dribbling, finishing and direct approach from the outset, but also understood that the youngster’s age and character would require time to adjust to the demands of playing for Real Madrid.
The manager remained committed to that development plan rather than reacting to early criticism. He maintained close contact with Diomande, sought to understand the personal difficulties he faced and worked to help him overcome them.
That patience is now producing results.
Diomande’s shooting and dribbling numbers surpass Vinicius Junior
The comparison between Diomande and Vinicius is especially striking in two areas: shooting efficiency and successful dribbling.
Vinicius has managed just one goal this season despite attempting 28 shots, only nine of which have been on target. Diomande, by contrast, has scored three times from 13 attempts, with five efforts hitting the target.
The difference is also evident when carrying the ball. Diomande averages 5.11 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, comfortably ahead of Vinicius’s 2.99.
Repaying Mourinho’s faith, but still room for improvement. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
These numbers underline why Diomande has become such an important attacking option for Mourinho. His ability to beat defenders, combined with his recent end product, gives Real Madrid a direct threat capable of changing matches.
Still room for improvement
Mourinho has every right to be pleased that his work with Diomande is producing quick returns, but the player is still far from being a finished product.
The next stage of his development involves improving his defensive contribution, as the youngster needs to become more effective when pressing opponents and providing support to his full-back.
There is also room for improvement in attack. Although Diomande has delivered consistently across his last four appearances, he must work on maintaining that level over a longer period.
For a player who arrived with a transfer fee of €140 million attached to his name, the recent performances represent an important step forward. The early pressure has eased as his contributions have become harder to ignore.
Mourinho’s plan is working, but it is now up to the player to turn this explosive spell into sustained excellence, particularly when Vinicius returns and competition for attacking places intensifies.