Soccer
Martin Demichelis revealed illness ruled in-demand Yan Diomande out of RB Leipzig’s pre-season friendly against SC Verl on Saturday.
Diomande has been the subject of interest for several top teams across Europe, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool linked with a move for the Leipzig forward.
However, recent developments have suggested that the 19-year-old now favours a move to the Spanish capital, though Madrid have seen a reported €100m rejected.
But an agreement with the LaLiga giants appears set to be edging closer after Diomande was absent for Leipzig’s 4-0 win over third-tier Verl during their pre-season tour of Austria.
Demichelis said last month that “in football, anything can happen” when asked about Diomande’s future, but cleared up the reasoning for the Ivory Coast international’s absence.
“I know it’s a big topic. Yan is genuinely ill,” Demichelis said.
“We’ll see [if he comes with us when we leave for our pre-season tour later today].
“I haven’t spoken with the doctor yet. If he’s healthy, he has to come with us. If he’s ill, then he’s ill.”
Interest in Diomande has come following a sensational individual campaign in 2025-26, where he registered 13 goals and nine assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.
He also completed 118 dribbles in the Bundesliga last season, at least 50 more than any other player, along with a division-high tally of take-on ending carries (104).
Diomande’s 20 Bundesliga goal involvements (12 goals, eight assists) ranked sixth in the competition last term, and he carried on that form at this summer’s World Cup.
The teenager became only the second African player on record (from 1966) to complete 10+ dribbles (10) and create 10+ chances (10) in a single World Cup group stage, after South Africa’s Quinton Fortune in 2002.
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