Highly-rated winger Yan Diomandé has broken his silence over the legal dispute threatening to derail his proposed move to Real Madrid, accusing his former representative Max Gradel of putting financial interests ahead of his career.
The Ivorian youngster claims Gradel, his former agent, is attempting to block the transfer by filing a petition with FIFA, despite Diomandé insisting that his previous contractual matters had already been resolved.
“I Wanted an Agency That Could Help Me Reach a Big Club”
Speaking about the ongoing situation, Diomandé explained why he decided to change representation after joining RB Leipzig.
“It’s really frustrating. The fact that Max is from the same country as me makes it even more heartbreaking.”
“When I joined Leipzig I wanted something different. I wanted an agency that could help take me to a big club.”
The winger revealed that he signed with Roc Nation, believing the agency was better positioned to guide his career.
“I signed with Roc Nation and everything was settled between me and my former representatives.”
Claims Former Agent Re-entered After Interest From Europe’s Elite
Diomandé alleges the dispute only resurfaced once some of Europe’s biggest clubs began showing interest in him.
“But as soon as the news came out that Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid were interested in me during the World Cup, Max suddenly wanted to be involved again.”
According to the player, the disagreement is driven by financial motives rather than concern for his future.
“For him it’s only about the money. He doesn’t care how it affects the player, unlike Roc Nation.”
Appeal to FIFA
With the matter now reportedly before FIFA, Diomandé hopes football’s governing body will carefully review the circumstances surrounding the case.
“I hope FIFA looks into this properly.”
The young star also used the opportunity to raise broader concerns about the treatment of emerging footballers.
“This is how a lot of agents destroy the dreams of young players who just want the chance to show themselves to the world. They only care about the money, not the player they are supposed to represent.”
“There are too many like that, especially in Africa.”
Transfer Remains Uncertain
The legal dispute has cast uncertainty over Diomandé’s anticipated move to Real Madrid.
However, RB Leipzig recently stated that no agreement has yet been reached with the Spanish club, with sporting director Marcel Schäfer insisting negotiations are still ongoing.
https://x.com/ALmediaSports/status/2084310237570285684?s=20
If FIFA becomes formally involved in the contractual dispute, the governing body could allow the transfer to proceed provisionally, delay the registration until the case is resolved, or take other measures depending on its findings.
For now, Diomandé’s future remains unresolved as all parties await further developments.
Editor’s Note: The allegations made by Yan Diomandé reflect his account of the dispute. FIFA has not publicly announced a ruling on the matter, and Max Gradel has not publicly responded to these specific claims at the time of writing.
Esther Afriyie Kumah is the Digital Media & Operations Manager and a writer at AL Media Sports of AL Media Group. She specializes in sports journalism, covering Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and African football with in-depth match reports, tactical analysis, player ratings, and expert insights.