The main obstacle to Yan Diomande’s proposed move to Real Madrid is the transfer fee, with negotiations between the Spanish club and RB Leipzig still held up by a reported difference of about €20m.
Real Madrid are understood to have made a final offer of approximately €130m for the Ivory Coast winger. RB Leipzig, however, are seeking close to €150m to release one of their prized assets. Despite the gap between the two valuations, there remains optimism within Diomande’s camp that an agreement can still be reached.
The 18-year-old has been strongly linked with Real Madrid for several weeks, but no deal has yet been officially announced. Diomande has also been left out of RB Leipzig’s professional squad as a precaution, with the club seeking to avoid any risk of injury while negotiations over his future continue.
The dispute between his former and current representatives is not thought to be responsible for the delay.
In recent days, controversy has surrounded a disagreement between Maxidel, the agency structure associated with Max-Alain Gradel, and Roc Nation, the agency that now represents Diomande. Maxidel says it has referred the matter to FIFA following the player’s change of representation. Roc Nation has strongly rejected those allegations in a statement.
However, a source close to the negotiations told Ivoirezine that the agency dispute is not the reason the transfer has yet to be completed. According to that source, the fee remains the central issue in discussions between Real Madrid and RB Leipzig.
The same source also offered further comment on the situation, while RB Leipzig chief executive Marcel Schafer addressed the change in Diomande’s representation in an interview with Sky Germany. Schafer sought to clarify the circumstances surrounding the player’s switch of agency.
Diomande remains under contract at RB Leipzig until June 2030. His current market value is estimated at €90m by Transfermarkt, although the German club’s reported asking price is considerably higher.
The Ivory Coast international is earning an annual salary of €750,000, equivalent to 487,500,000 FCFA, in Germany. Any agreement would therefore require Real Madrid and RB Leipzig to settle the outstanding difference over the transfer fee before the move can be completed.
For now, attention remains focused on whether Real Madrid will improve their offer or whether RB Leipzig will reduce their demands. The financial gap is the final significant step standing between Diomande and a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, with negotiations continuing between the two clubs.
