Why Diomande decided against Liverpool transfer after meeting Iraola

Liverpool's transition season under new boss Andoni Iraola may have played a part in Yan Diomande deciding against a move to Anfield. The 19‑year‑old is said to have met Iraola before choosing his next step - a meeting that ultimately preceded his decision to join Real Madrid instead.

The Reds had explored a deal earlier in the summer and were firmly in the mix for the youngster, but refused to meet RB Leipzig's €130m (£111m) valuation. Their £85m bid was rejected, and the club opted not to return with an improved offer.

Champions League winners Paris Saint‑Germain were also interested, with reports suggesting Diomande had agreed personal terms, but they too fell short of Leipzig’s asking price. Madrid had an £85.4m offer turned down as well, before eventually striking a deal worth up to €140m (£120m).

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Madrid's agreement for Diomande is built around an initial €125m (£107m) fee, with a further €15m (£12.8m) in add‑ons, with the midfielder signing a seven‑year contract. He becomes the sixth arrival of Jose Mourinho's summer rebuild at the Bernabeu, following Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi.

However, Madrid were not initially in the market for a winger. The expectation had been that Nico Paz would return via a buy‑back clause after impressing at Como since leaving in 2024.

That opened the door for Liverpool, who were viewed as Diomande's most likely destination and the prospect of replacing club legend Mohamed Salah was said to appeal to the Ivorian. But after meeting Iraola, Diomande is said to have felt Liverpool were heading into a transition season, prompting him to look elsewhere, according to The Athletic.

He ultimately chose to play under Jose Mourinho and chase a third consecutive Champions League title instead, as Real's new manager prompted a switch in transfer policy.

"The final piece was Jose Mourinho," confirmed Nathan Campbell, Roc Nation's head of global football recruitment and Diomande's agent. "He spoke to him in fluent French, which was massive for him.

"We didn't realise Mourinho spoke fluent French, because he hasn't been at a French club. But the time of day that he took the call with Yan and the fact that he spoke fluently in French with him - about his ideas, the project, and how he would fit into the team - showed that he valued that conversation.

"That was a massive point. The key to convincing him."

The Athletic adds that Diomande was given a detailed career plan, outlining both individual and team‑based development pathways - including case studies such as Vinicius Junior and how his trajectory has evolved at the Bernabeu.