Real Madrid Overhauls Squad, Heads to Pre-Season Finale with €140M Signing and New Stars

The 19-year-old Ivory Coast international could make his debut for the "White Ballet" in Sunday's match in Gelsenkirchen, which serves as a dress rehearsal before the start of the new La Liga season.

Mourinho can also count on other key players, including French forward Kylian Mbappe and English midfielder Jude Bellingham. Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella and French center-back Ibrahima Konate are also expected to debut. Real Madrid has significantly revamped its squad after two consecutive seasons without a major trophy, AFP reported.

The transfer fee Real Madrid had to pay Leipzig for Diomande could reach up to 140 million euros with bonuses. Several European giants, including Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, showed interest in the African teenager after his individually successful Bundesliga season.

However, the English club was unwilling to pay such a high transfer fee. According to media reports, the player himself preferred a move to PSG, but the European champions later withdrew from negotiations as well.

Last season, Diomande played 36 matches for Leipzig across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists. Diomande has become the most expensive African player in history, with his transfer surpassing the approximately 80 million euros Arsenal paid for another Ivorian, Nicolas Pepe, in 2019.