Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig has experienced a remarkable transformation from humble beginnings, catching attention after a trial match with Rangers against Monaco.
Fast forward nearly three years, and the 19-year-old is now poised to command a transfer fee that might rival the stakes found in Monaco’s opulent casinos.
In February, talkSPORT highlighted that Liverpool has earmarked Diomande as a possible heir to Mohamed Salah’s legacy.
According to talkSPORT, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Chelsea have also kept a keen eye on the young talent throughout the current season.
Diomande made his move to Leipzig from Leganes for £17.3 million last summer, but his value has since soared to an impressive €100 million (£87 million).
Diomande only joined Leipzig from Leganes for £17.3million last summer, and yet has now been rated at being worth €100m (£87m).
Inside Yan Diomande’s Rangers trial
The Ivory Coast superstar was playing semi-professional football in America at DME Academy in Daytona Beach as recently as 2024.
It was during his time there that Diomande got his first taste of European academy life when he went on trial with Rangers.
The nine-cap international even started for the Gers’ B team during their clash with Monaco at Ibrox on 7 October 2023.
The then-jewels of the Rangers academy, Bailey Rice and Zak Lovelace, were both omitted by the Light Blues and instead featured under interim boss Steven Davis in a 3-0 win at St Mirren a day later.
Diomande, who was cutting his teeth at US fourth-tier outfit, AS Frenzi, was listed as a trialist and was handed Rangers’ No.7 shirt.
He almost made the perfect first impression, but his shot after seven minutes was blocked by the legs of Monaco goalkeeper Yan Lienard.
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Rangers B 1-3 AS Monaco B
RANGERS B: Munn, Devine, King, Allen (Grant, 35), Fraser, Lyall (Curtis, 60), Nsio, Allan, Trialist (Robertson, 89), Stevens, Eadie (Newton, 75)
Subs not used: Halliwell, Hutton, McInally, McClure
AS MONACO B: Lienard, Babai, Okou (Patret, 45), Yalme, Bery, Benama (Yakoub, 79), Bouabre (Baranik, 65), Bamba, Efekele (Coulibaly, 79), Ben Seghir (Baglieri, 45), Michal (Bertolucci, 85)
Subs not used: Zadi
Unfortunately, for Diomande, the visitors punished Rangers’ profligacy and found themselves three goals up inside half an hour.
Paul Nsio pulled one back for the hosts on 34 minutes, before Diomande lashed another shot wide in pursuit of a Rangers second.
RB Leipzig’s now-No. 49 was withdrawn late on for Kerr Robertson but never played for the club again after a deal failed to materialise.
Diomande explains why he didn’t join Rangers
He said: “I was scouted at an international tournament. To prepare for a professional career in Europe, I transferred to an academy in Florida.
“Two years later, I was on trial at Glasgow Rangers. It’s not true that I didn’t want to sign for them – my agent at the time demanded too much money.
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“After that, I went to Olympiacos on trial, but that didn’t work out either. Eventually, I went to Spain and signed a contract with Leganes.
“I was alone when I went on those trials, but I’m grateful for those experiences.
“They helped me understand that I can make it through life on my own if I have to. I sometimes find it hard to grasp what has happened in the past few years.”
It was for that reason that European football guru Andy Brassell believes it would be too harsh to blame Rangers 30 months later.
“When Yan Diomande was at Leganes, it was clear that he was a good player, clear that he had loads of potential, and he’s very exciting,” he exclusively told talkSPORT.com.
“But I think you still have to recognise that Leipzig were taking a bit of a punt that sort of money.
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“They have backed him, and they’ve backed themselves in terms of being able to develop players that they have done for a number of years – and they’ve done a phenomenal job.
“There’s no doubt about it. I think it’s benefited him as well, the situation that they’re in – Not qualifying for any European competition at the end of last season.
“It seemed with Marco Rose, who’s obviously gone to Bournemouth, with some key players leaving with them, missing the European places, it felt as if they had to rip it up and start again.
“I think that’s to his benefit because he’s been able to spend time with top quality coaches on the training field rather than play in every midweek, rather than playing every three days, and it’s really really worked for him now.
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“Obviously, Leipzig and their management, Oliver Mintzlaff, said at the weekend that we’re not selling him under any circumstances.
“If someone puts 100 million on the table, I would suggest that they might change their minds, but it’s great that they feel they’re in a position to do that.
“As I often say, I don’t think there’s any rush for him to do anything. Go into Europe, play with Leipzig, do well in the Champions League.
“See how it goes from there because the speed at which he’s developed, Rangers nor any other club could be expected to recognise that!
“Let’s be honest with the intense physicality of Scottish football. There’s no guarantee that he would have developed into the player that he is becoming now had he gone to Rangers.
“So I think it’s hugely intellectually dishonest for us to sit here and go, ‘Oh well, Rangers have dropped a clanger here. Imagine they’d be ranking a hundred million for him.’ Would they really?
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“When does Scotland sell players to other leagues for a hundred million. It just doesn’t happen. It just does not happen.
“I think it’s easier to judge someone because obviously it’s a better league for the impact they’ve made in the Bundesliga than with all due respect in the Scottish Premier League to judge the impact they’ve made there.
“You go back to when Alfredo Morelos was really good for Rangers, and you had European clubs interested in him.
“And Rangers could never get the deal they wanted when they were looking for what? 15/20 million for him, something like that.
“People simply weren’t prepared to pay that for a player from the Scottish Premiership.
“So, look, it’s a lovely little daydream, but I don’t think we’re right to tell Rangers off for getting it wrong, and maybe it wouldn’t have been the right move for Diomande either.”