Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has backed Yan Diomande despite the young forward’s limited number of starts since joining the Spanish giants.
Mourinho insists Diomande lacks nothing in terms of quality and would be a regular starter at most other clubs.
The Portuguese coach made the comments while explaining why the Ivory Coast international has not yet established himself as a first-choice player at Real Madrid.
“He lacks nothing. If he were in another team with players of lesser ability, he would undoubtedly be a starter playing the full 90 minutes in every match,” Mourinho said.
Diomande joined Real Madrid from RB Leipzig in August on a seven-year contract. The 19-year-old arrived in Spain after an impressive 2025/26 campaign in Germany, where he recorded 12 goals and nine assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances.
However, competition for places has made it difficult for him to secure a regular starting role at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid have several high-profile attacking options, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler. Mourinho has therefore had to carefully manage his attacking combinations.
Diomande made his first start for Madrid in their 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on September 12. He has made six appearances this season, with 166 minutes played.
His arrival has nevertheless generated plenty of excitement among Madrid supporters. The forward has already spoken about his desire to help the club win major trophies and develop alongside some of the world’s best players.
