Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is deliberately maintaining a cautious approach with Yan Diomande, with the Ivorian winger yet to start a La Liga match since his record-breaking move to the Spanish club.
Diomande joined Real Madrid for a fee of more than €120 million, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history. However, despite the size of the transfer, Mourinho has largely used the 2026/2027 season as a period of gradual adaptation for the forward.
The 2026/2027 campaign has so far seen Diomande begin matches on the bench, with the 20-year-old generally introduced during the second half. Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and other attacking players have been selected ahead of him in the starting line-up for official La Liga fixtures.
According to Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Mourinho’s decision is intended to shield Diomande from the immediate scrutiny that would accompany a starting role. The manager is believed to be concerned that placing the winger into the team too soon, followed by an underwhelming performance, could create unnecessary pressure around a player whose transfer fee has already raised expectations.
Mourinho is instead monitoring Diomande’s development closely during training and plans to introduce him into the starting XI in stages. The approach is designed to help the winger adjust to the demands of Real Madrid football without being rushed into action simply because of the amount the club paid for him.
Diomande is reportedly remaining calm while he waits for a regular starting opportunity. He is said to be working hard to establish himself within the squad and demonstrate that he can justify Real Madrid’s significant investment.
The situation is also understood to be linked to Mourinho’s desire to avoid a repeat of Franco Mastantuono’s experience. The Argentine attacker was placed directly into the starting line-up after arriving at the club, but eventually struggled and flopped.
For now, Diomande’s appearances are being managed carefully rather than treated as evidence that he has fallen out of favour. Mourinho’s preference is to build the winger’s involvement over time, allowing him to compete for a starting place once the coaching staff believe he is ready.
The decision means Diomande has had to watch Arda Guler, Brahim Diaz and others begin matches in his position, while he has been limited mainly to substitute appearances. Nevertheless, the player is understood to accept the process and remains focused on earning greater responsibility.
His arrival remains one of the defining transfers of the 2026/2027 season, alongside the moves involving Enzo and Barcola. The scale of the fee has placed Diomande under unavoidable attention, but Mourinho’s selection policy suggests the manager wants his performances to develop independently of that price tag.
