Yan Diomandé, Real Madrid's Priciest Signing Ever: "When Madrid Calls, You Can't Say No"

A fixed 125 million euros, plus 15 million more in variables. That's the figure that makes Yan Diomandé the most expensive signing in Real Madrid's history. Carrying that weight on his shoulders, the 19-year-old Ivorian sat down in front of the club's official channels and didn't mince words when explaining why he chose Valdebebas over any other destination.

"Because it's the best club in the world. When Madrid calls, you can't say no. It's that simple," he said when asked about the reasons behind his decision. The line wasn't a one off either: he repeated almost the exact same phrase later on, as if he wanted to hammer home a single idea throughout the interview.

The winger arrives from RB Leipzig and had been strongly linked with Paris Saint-Germain in the months leading up to the close of the transfer window. However, as the player himself admitted, one factor ultimately tipped the scales: a conversation with Jose Mourinho.

I want to thank the coach because we had a conversation before, and I'm here thanks to him and to the club, of course. I'm happy. Thank you for this signing, and thank you to the club and the coach for believing in me.Yan Diomandé

A demanding adjustment, but full of excitement

Beyond the announcement and the numbers, Diomandé also spoke about how he's experiencing his first weeks of training. He didn't hide it: the level of demand at Valdebebas is unlike anything he'd known before in his career.

This is the biggest club in the world, and everyone wants to come here. Everything is different. This is tougher. That's normal because it's the biggest club. You need to work harder than at other clubs to be the best in the world. And that's what I'm trying to do.Yan Diomandé

Sources consulted by ESPN agree that the Ivorian has turned heads since his very first sessions, both for his technical quality and for his speed and physical ability, qualities that largely justify an investment of that magnitude by the Spanish club.

On a personal level, the young winger was also self-critical about his own personality in the locker room. He describes himself as somewhat shy, still in the process of opening up to teammates he was, until recently, only watching on television.

"I'm a bit shy when it comes to talking, and I want to learn the team's dynamic so I can help us achieve a lot of success together. It's always good to have great players in the locker room. You learn from them. I used to watch them on TV, and now we share the same locker room. It's incredible," he said.

The interview closed with a direct message to Real Madrid's fans, full of the emotion of someone living out a childhood dream. Diomandé stressed that his goal is to win titles and to make his family proud of the journey he's made from Ivory Coast to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I'm proud and happy because this was my dream. When I was a kid, I wanted to play for the biggest clubs in the world. My goal is to achieve a lot of success with the club and help the team win everything. Hala Madrid!" the winger concluded, already established as the club's big bet for the years to come.