Jose Mourinho has seen a young Vinicius Junior in Yan Diomande.
In a Sunday-night press conference after Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over Sevilla, the Portuguese handed his teenage winger the sort of comparison that will follow him through the week into El Clasico build-up.
“He reminds me of Vinicius when he arrived at Real Madrid, and then after three years became a top-level player,” Mourinho said at the Bernabeu, according to ysscores.
He was careful not to oversell him.
Read also: Tadej Pogacar breaks silence on career-threatening crash and delivers blunt verdict on rumours
“He still has a lot to improve. He is a young and somewhat naive player, and his development is not complete yet.”
A record signing’s first starring role
Diomande arrived from RB Leipzig in August for a reported €140m fee including bonuses, a club record according to Spanish media. He signed a contract to 2033.
Against Sevilla he started on the left in place of Vinicius and provided both a goal and the key pass of the night. Arda Guler opened the scoring in the 30th minute after Diomande “unselfishly laid off the ball” to the Turkish playmaker, per SI’s player ratings, which handed Diomande an 8.8 on the night. Kylian Mbappe added a brace, one from the penalty spot, before Diomande rounded off a 4-1 scoreline in the 82nd minute.
Vinicius out for a month
The chance arrived because Vinicius is serving a four-match La Liga ban. The Spanish federation’s disciplinary committee confirmed the suspension on 14 October after the Brazilian pulled Nathan Saliba’s hair in a defeat to Villarreal, and Real Madrid’s appeal was rejected. The ban keeps him out of Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona on 25 October and the next two league fixtures after it.
Read also: ‘I need to find my way back to myself’: Svitolina ends her marriage to Monfils
That month without Vinicius is now Diomande’s. SI noted five goal contributions in his last five appearances.
Valverde the right-back
The other tactical note from the night was Federico Valverde, who started at right-back and produced a block in front of Thibaut Courtois shortly before the hour mark.
Mourinho leaned into the versatility.
“He is the team captain, and if he had to play as a goalkeeper, I would give him the gloves and ask him to go onto the pitch.”
Read also: Real Madrid handed Michael Olise boost as Bayern Munich admit contract talks have not begun
Barcelona are six days away. Mourinho said he would not turn his attention to the Clasico until after Wednesday’s Champions League night, with the Diomande audition set to continue there.
Read also: Javier Tebas accuses Real Madrid of trying to ‘DESTROY’ LaLiga as bitter feud escalates
