Yan Diomande’s performances were one of the key highlights for Real Madrid in the last few weeks, as the forward has finally started to find his feet in La Liga.
And after a string of impressive performances for Los Blancos, Diomande has carried that form onto the international break, notably impressing for Ivory Coast this week.
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The former RB Leipzig star produced a brilliant display in the win over The Gambia, which won’t make life easier for Jose Mourinho, as far as team selection is concerned.
Diomande has impressed Real Madrid in recent weeks. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
As reported by MARCA, Diomande completed the full match in the Ivorian attack, operating mainly from the left flank alongside Elye Wahi and Nicolas Pepe.
He made decisive contributions in the final third, notably robbing the ball before setting up one of the two goals in the victory over The Gambia.
Although his tally of three goals and two assists in 18 matches for Ivory Coast might seem unimpressive, it is clear that the 20-year-old has emerged as the nation’s biggest attacking asset right now.
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His performance against The Gambia was once again a reminder that the player is constantly improving and is now in a favourable position to fight for a regular place in the starting eleven.
Diomande will be looking to topple Vinicius for a place in the starting eleven. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Diomande’s exploits, however, will hand Mourinho a major selection dilemma, especially now that Vinicius Jr. is also eligible to feature in La Liga matches after serving a four-match suspension.
The Portuguese has always viewed Vinicius on the left and Diomande on the right, and that logic is likely to prevail should both start.
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The dilemma is that fielding the pair alongside Kylian Mbappe would mean sacrificing a player from deeper, where Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva have all been growing in influence.
Mourinho is convinced Diomande can thrive on the right, where his natural power and ability to beat his man offer greater depth, as his Leipzig minutes last season suggest. Yet the Ivorian has also proven lethal cutting inside from the left.
This makes things all the more interesting as Real Madrid plan to resume their campaign next weekend, with a home game against Celta Vigo.
