Real Madrid broke the bank to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig in the summer, placing a lot of faith in him.
Jose Mourinho took his time to integrate the youngster into his plans, and that decision has paid off massively in recent weeks.
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Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension provided the perfect opportunity for Diomande to kick-start his Real Madrid career.
The Ivorian’s dribbling ability had already caught the attention of football fans before his move to Real Madrid, but he has since shown that there is much more to his game.
In an interview, his former teammate Antonio Nusa revealed just how much he admired Diomande during their time together.
“When Yan had the ball, I just enjoyed watching him play,” Nusa recalled, explaining how the two operated on opposite flanks (h/t Madrid Zone).
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“He has extraordinary skill,” the 21-year-old added.
Antonio Nusa was full of praise for Yan Diomande. (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images)
Interestingly, Nusa also acknowledged that watching Diomande helped him develop his own abilities as a winger.
“It was great to learn from him,” he explained, admitting that he had incorporated elements of the Ivorian’s game into his own.
The Norwegian youngster believes both players share similar characteristics, particularly in their willingness to take risks and beat opponents through individual skill.
Nusa’s assessment has been reflected in the version of Diomande that fans at the Santiago Bernabeu have seen so far.
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His skill and ability to take on defenders need no introduction, but his defensive awareness has also caught the eye, especially in recent weeks.
Diomande looks like a star in the making for Real Madrid. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Diomande’s willingness to track back and support the left-back proved particularly important in El Clasico a few weeks ago.
He also impressed against Valencia, completing six of his eight attempted dribbles and winning 12 duels during Madrid’s comfortable 3-0 victory.
Everything points to Diomande having an excellent career at Real Madrid. Nusa’s admiration for him is obvious from his words.
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The Norwegian is an equally talented winger who seems destined to join a top European club in the near future.
If he continues to perform well for Leipzig, Real Madrid could be among the clubs interested in signing him. It remains to be seen how he develops.
