Yan Diomande isn’t likely to break into Real Madrid’s starting XI any time soon.
The Ivorian became Madrid’s all-time record signing weeks ago when a €125million deal with Leipzig was agreed.
Yet to open the season, he’s only played 32 minutes for his new side.
Madrid have won their opening matches against Espanyol and Real Sociedad with the same 4-2-3-1 line-up under Jose Mourinho.
Things are showing signs of clicking with Jude Bellingham back as a number 10 and more defensive stability with Denzel Dumfries and Dean Huijsen.
Up front Arda Guler has been the big surprise, starting on the right with Vinicius Jr on the left and Kylian Mbappe up front.
Diomande has yet to start, and AS editor Tomas Roncero doesn’t see that changing for a while due to his playing style.
Diomande told he’ll be bench warming this season
“I truly believe that Diomande is very good, but he’s going to spend a lot of time on the bench because I don’t see him having much of a chance of starting,” he began.
“Right now, he can’t make the starting eleven. He can’t start because, if he plays Diomande, it’s to play a much more direct style.
“But then who provides the team with attacking options? Who supplies the forwards?
“If Diomande starts today, Bellingham has to drop back 15 meters. Without Guler, there wouldn’t be any support at the back of the team, and then you lose Bellingham.
“The Turkish player tends to drift inside. In fact, during the match he was often behind Mbappe in the build-up play, forming a square with Bernardo Silva, Valverde, and Bellingham in midfield.
“I think he’s working very hard off the ball. Arda Guler obviously knows that his position isn’t in the double pivot and that, with Bellingham in his current form, there’s stiff competition for the attacking midfield spot.”
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