Real Madrid Squad Update: Diomande Misses Pre-Season Match in Budapest
Real Madrid travel without record signing Yan Diomande as José Mourinho trims his squad for the second outing of pre-season in Budapest.
The Ivorian winger, unveiled less than a day ago and paraded through his first steps at Valdebebas, will not be on the plane to face Ferencváros at the Groupama Arena on Saturday. For the club’s most expensive signing, the debut will have to wait.
Diomande held back as paperwork takes priority
Diomande’s absence is not down to fitness or form but to bureaucracy and timing. As reported by Spanish newspaper Marca, he skipped the final morning session before the trip to complete the administrative formalities of his move to Madrid. While his new teammates worked on the pitch, he was tied up with contracts and registrations.
It leaves him without a first call-up, a minor pause in what has otherwise been a whirlwind 24 hours since Madrid confirmed his arrival and welcomed him to the Spanish capital. There had been an expectation he might follow the fast-track route of Carlos Espí, who joined the group as soon as he landed last week and was immediately thrown into the dynamic of the squad.
Mourinho has chosen a different route. With Diomande carrying the weight of that record fee, the coach has opted for caution, granting him extra time to settle, train properly, and avoid a rushed, symbolic appearance in Hungary.
Vinícius, Bernardo and Brahim step in
If Diomande stays behind, there is still plenty of star power on the flight leaving for Budapest at 4 p.m. local time. Vinícius Júnior, Bernardo Silva and Brahim Díaz all make the squad, each of them having joined up with the team only this week. All three are now in line for their first minutes of this pre-season.
Vinícius, in particular, will command the spotlight. The Brazilian is poised to play his first match since signing his new contract, which ties him to Real Madrid until 2032. Every touch will be read as a statement: a long-term leader of the attack stepping into a new chapter with the club.
Bernardo Silva’s presence adds a different kind of intrigue. The Portuguese playmaker, freshly integrated into Mourinho’s plans, offers a glimpse of how Madrid’s midfield might be reshaped in the months ahead. Brahim, meanwhile, will look to build on last season’s flashes of ingenuity and stake an early claim for a more central role.
Defensive boost as Huijsen returns
At the back, there is a quiet but important boost. Dean Huijsen returns to the squad after a muscle injury that had kept him out and has now rejoined full training. His name on the list is a welcome sight for a defensive unit still managing the situation of Antonio Rüdiger, who remains on the path to full sharpness.
Even so, Rüdiger travels and is included, underlining Mourinho’s desire to keep his defensive leader close to the group as fitness builds. Around them, a mix of established names and younger options will compete for minutes and impressions.
Full Real Madrid squad vs Ferencváros
- Goalkeepers: Andriy Lunin, Mestre, Navarro.
- Defenders: Dean Huijsen, Juan Martínez, Antonio Rüdiger, Lamine Fati, Mario Rivas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Denzel Dumfries, Álvaro Carreras.
- Midfielders: Arda Güler, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga, Sистero, Lacosta, Cirilla.
- Forwards: Brahim Díaz, Vinícius Júnior, Yáñez, Endrick, Carlos Espí.
Budapest will not see Yan Diomande’s first steps in white. That moment, now delayed, grows a little bigger with every passing day.
