Diomande Answers Real Madrid Critics Over €140M Fee

The 19-year-old Ivorian winger posted a defiant social media message responding to scrutiny of his record transfer price.

Yan Diomande has publicly responded to ongoing debate about the €140 million fee Real Madrid paid RB Leipzig to sign him this summer. Writing on social media, in comments carried by El Chiringuito TV, the 19-year-old posted the figure itself and added: "They will always come to criticise us… We just keep going up."

Real Madrid brought in seven players during the summer window as part of a squad overhaul under new manager Jose Mourinho, who was appointed by president Florentino Perez after two seasons without a trophy. Diomande, an Ivorian winger, has been introduced gradually rather than thrown straight into the side.

Mourinho gave the teenager his first start against Rayo Vallecano, and he also featured against Elche, where he set up Kylian Mbappe while playing on the right before looking livelier after moving to his favored left flank. He came on for Vinicius Junior shortly after halftime against Atletico Madrid and was one of the brighter attackers while the team played with ten men.

Diomande's pace and direct running are seen as adding a further one-on-one threat, and his ability to play on either wing could help ease the positional congestion between Mbappe and Vinicius. The transfer figure will continue to shadow his performances, but the club views patience as essential for a player of his age adjusting to Madrid.