Diomande, how a star is forged

Profile of Yan Diomande's rise from the streets of Abidjan to Real Madrid, shaped by Spanish coach José Julián López at Academy AFI.

Yan Diomande grew up in the impoverished Sicogi district of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where he played football with makeshift balls in the streets. Spotted by talent scout Dez Bamba during a street game, the young Diomande was invited to join Academy AFI Sud Comoé in Assouba in 2014 at age ten.

At the academy, directed by Spanish coach José Julián López, Diomande quickly impressed with his dribbling, shooting ability and intelligence. López recalls his exceptional technical ability and hunger to learn both on and off the pitch. The academy provided not just football training but also schooling and meals for forty young talents, many of whom had never attended school before. Diomande excelled in both the classroom and on the field, standing out for his complete skill set, natural talent and ambition to improve.

López, now coordinator at Valdemoro's football school, credits Bamba's discovery and his own coaching in developing Diomande's raw talent into the player who would eventually sign for Real Madrid.