Real Madrid News Roundup: Lewandowski on Mourinho’s Madrid, McTominay opens door to move
· Yahoo Sports
It was a busy Wednesday around Real Madrid, with several stories emerging that did not quite warrant standalone coverage. Yan Diomande has opened up about his journey from Abidjan to the Bernabéu, a French investigation reportedly uncovered an alleged plot targeting Kylian Mbappé, Sergio Martínez trained with the first team, while Robert Lewandowski, Scott McTominay, Fernando Morientes and Daniel ‘Toro’ Aquino have all spoken about Madrid.
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Here is the September 2 Real Madrid news roundup.
Diomande: Joining Real Madrid is fulfilling a childhood dream
Yan Diomande has reflected on the remarkable journey that ultimately brought him to Real Madrid.
Speaking in an interview with Red Bull Athlete, the 19-year-old traced his development back to playing football as a child in Abidjan, where formal facilities mattered considerably less than simply finding somewhere to play.
“Growing up in Abidjan meant that football was everything. We played on any surface we could find, without proper boots or a suitable pitch, just for the love of the game,” Diomande said. “That hunger and joy never left me; they remain the foundation of how I play today.”
Diomande eventually moved to the United States and DME Academy in Florida, where interest from European clubs began to make his ambitions feel more attainable.
“It was always the dream, but it started to seem real when I was at the DME Academy in Florida and European scouts began to notice me. It was difficult; at first, I couldn’t communicate with anyone, and everything was different. But soccer was my language, and my teammates helped me find my place on and off the field.”
His subsequent move to RB Leipzig accelerated that development. Diomande singled out winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award as an important validation of the sacrifices he and his family had made.
“Winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award in my first full season. It was proof that all the sacrifices my family and I made were worthwhile. Leipzig taught me to compete at the highest level week after week, and the coaching staff demanded I improve every detail of my game. That season gave me the confidence and mentality I’ll need at Real Madrid.”
Now at the Bernabéu, Diomande is living the ambition that drove his career in the first place.
“It’s fulfilling a childhood dream, it’s everything I’ve worked for. I’m eager to write my chapter at this club and contribute to its success. Representing my country on the world stage taught me that the biggest stage demands the utmost composure: you have to trust in your preparation. And off the field, sharing that experience with my country and my family is something I will always carry with me.”
Diomande also spoke about the level he has encountered since joining Real Madrid and what he can learn simply by training alongside his new teammates.
“It’s incredible. In every session, the bar is set so high that you have no choice but to raise your own level. You learn something just by watching how they move, how they think, and how they prepare each day.”
Away from football, the winger described himself as considerably more relaxed.
“I’m quite calm. I love spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, and calling home in Abidjan. Maintaining that connection to where I come from keeps me focused.”
Mbappé reportedly among targets in alleged kidnapping plot
Kylian Mbappé was reportedly included on a list of potential targets uncovered during a French criminal investigation.
According to Le Parisien, an 18-year-old French-Swiss man identified as Clément L. was charged on August 21 with organized gang robbery. Investigators allege that the teenager, reportedly already incarcerated in Villepinte prison, used mobile phones to communicate instructions to accomplices and was linked to plans targeting wealthy individuals.
Authorities reportedly discovered the addresses of 26 potential targets on two phones, including footballers, musicians and wealthy businesspeople.
Mbappé was among the names discovered, according to a judicial source cited by Le Parisien, with the alleged plan involving attacking and robbing the Real Madrid forward during one of his visits to Paris.
The investigation reportedly developed after an attempted home invasion involving a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine. Three men posing as delivery drivers allegedly went to his home on April 25 and left an empty package, but fled after the intended victim became suspicious.
The watchmaker’s business was then robbed on May 4, with two armed men reportedly stealing 11 luxury watches valued at approximately €150,000.
Investigators eventually connected suspects to the earlier incident through fingerprints found on the package, according to the report. Police subsequently seized phones belonging to the alleged organizer and discovered information relating to numerous potential future targets, including Mbappé.
There is no indication in the report that an attempt against Mbappé was ultimately carried out.
Sergio Martínez joins first-team training
Real Madrid completed their second training session ahead of Friday’s visit to Real Betis at La Cartuja, with new signing Sergio Martínez among the players working with José Mourinho’s squad.
The 19-year-old midfielder joined Madrid from Racing on August 31 in a deal worth around €3 million.
Martínez is initially expected to play for Castilla, but Real Madrid also intend to give him opportunities to work with the senior squad, allowing Mourinho to closely follow his development.
There were otherwise few changes on the injury front. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Endrick and Thiago continued their respective recovery programs away from the group.
None are currently expected to return for the Betis game.
Lewandowski: Real Madrid are stronger with Mourinho
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski believes Real Madrid have strengthened significantly following their summer business and Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu.
Speaking to AS, Lewandowski acknowledged the potential threat posed by Barcelona’s biggest rivals this season.
“Real Madrid is now stronger with the new signings and with José (Mourinho). My feeling is that after two years without winning anything, their mentality is important and they can be very strong this season, but I’m always with Barcelona.”
Madrid have made a strong start under Mourinho, and Lewandowski believes the combination of their new additions and motivation following two trophyless campaigns could make them formidable opposition.
McTominay would consider a Real Madrid move
Scott McTominay has admitted that he would have something to think about if Mourinho attempted to bring him to Real Madrid.
Asked about the hypothetical scenario during an interview with Corriere della Sera, McTominay said:
“If Mourinho called me about Real Madrid, honestly, I’d think about it…”
There is no indication that Madrid are currently pursuing McTominay, but the midfielder has a history with Mourinho. The Portuguese coach gave McTominay significant opportunities during their time together at Manchester United.
Morientes: Diomande is the player I’m most eager to see
Former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes has singled out Diomande as one of the most intriguing players to watch this season.
Speaking at a La Liga event, Morientes acknowledged that there is still an element of the unknown surrounding the young winger but said Madrid’s enormous investment speaks to how highly the club rates him.
“Yan Diomande is one of the players I’m most eager to see. He’s an unknown quantity, but when a club pays what Real Madrid has paid for him, obviously Real Madrid is absolutely certain he’s going to perform. If they’ve paid that much for him, he must be very, very good.”
Morientes also recalled the hectic circumstances surrounding his 2003 loan move from Real Madrid to Monaco. The striker had no idea he was leaving when he entered the pitch against Betis and, within hours, was flying to France.
“You have to anticipate many things because it’s not just the professional aspect you’re leaving behind. Whether it’s a loan, a permanent transfer. And then there’s the personal aspect as well. At that time, I had a family, just like now, and I had to consider the situation where it was. Whether the club also offered the stability I was looking for. It was Monaco, everything turned out fantastically, but the day of the signing was rough, I was very nervous, very uncertain. I played the first league match against Betis, Real Madrid-Betis, I played five or ten minutes, and an hour and a half later I was catching a flight to Monaco, so you can see how fast it all happened. When I went onto the pitch, I didn’t even know that Monaco had called me or that I was going there. I thought I was going to stay for the whole season.”
Asked what the peak version of himself might command in today’s transfer market, Morientes jokingly put himself in nine-figure territory before reflecting on how much the role of the traditional striker has changed.
“How much would I be worth in today’s market? 110 million. Just kidding. Football has evolved a lot since my time. In almost every club I’ve been at, the system was 4-4-2, with a center forward and another striker. Now the center forward is even smaller; that’s how football has evolved. But I’ve always thought that players like Espí, for example, are key players throughout a season. So, if we’re talking about the Fernando Morientes of 2002, 2003, an international player, given how football is today, he’d be worth a lot.”
Aquino recalls the Real Madrid move that never happened
Former Real Betis striker Daniel ‘Toro’ Aquino has revealed that negotiations once took place over a potential move to Real Madrid.
Speaking to AS, Aquino said there was genuine interest but that he never discovered why the transfer ultimately fell through.
“Joining Real Madrid? It could have happened. There was a lot of interest and negotiations took place, but it didn’t go through. I never knew the real reason. It would have been a dream come true for the whole family. I was playing at a very high level then, and many clubs were interested.”
Aquino also looked ahead to Madrid’s upcoming visit to Betis and cautioned against assuming Mourinho’s side will have an easy night following Betis’ 5-2 defeat to Levante.
“Real Betis’s 5-2 loss to Levante.. It was a big surprise, but Betis has the quality and pride to bounce back, and it’s very difficult to take points from them at their stadium. The fans create a lot of pressure; it’s contagious, and the opposition feels the atmosphere. Although Real Madrid has started well, it won’t be easy for them to win there.”
Aquino has nevertheless been impressed by Mourinho’s early work, particularly the apparent organization he has brought to the team and the form of Mbappé.
“It seems Jose Mourinho brought order to the team since his arrival, and the start has been good, but this is a long season, and it’s not wise to make judgments at this stage. What is certain is that if Mbappé continues at his current level, they’ll have more options. I really like that player.”
Finally, Aquino recalled Betis’ famous 2-0 victory at the Bernabéu in 1995, which came after Real Madrid had already secured the league title.
“That’s true. In the 1994-1995 season, Real Madrid had already won the league, they’d been celebrating all week, and I think they arrived a bit relaxed, but even so, it’s not easy to win at the Bernabéu. We gave them a guard of honor and then managed a 2-0 victory after a great match to cap off a fantastic year.”