Yan Diomande's decision to join Real Madrid instead of Liverpool was influenced by a meeting with new Reds boss Andoni Iraola, which left the 19-year-old sensing a transitional period at Anfield.
The midfielder had been a target for Liverpool earlier in the summer, with the club seeing an £85m offer rejected. RB Leipzig held out for a higher fee, eventually securing a deal worth up to €140m (£120m) from Madrid.
Transfer saga details
Liverpool were firmly in contention but refused to meet Leipzig's €130m (£111m) valuation. Paris Saint-Germain also showed interest and reportedly agreed personal terms, but they too fell short of the German club's demands.
Madrid saw an £85.4m bid turned down before striking a deal structured around an upfront €125m (£107m) payment, with an additional €15m (£12.8m) in performance-related bonuses. Diomande has signed a seven-year contract.
Mourinho's influence
Diomande becomes the sixth signing of Jose Mourinho's summer overhaul at the Bernabeu, following Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi. The Ivorian will pursue a third successive Champions League crown under Mourinho.
According to The Athletic, Diomande was presented with an extensive career roadmap, featuring examples such as Vinicius Junior and his progression at the Bernabeu.
"The final piece was Jose Mourinho," confirmed Nathan Campbell, Roc Nation's head of global football recruitment and Diomande's agent. "He spoke to him in fluent French, which was massive for him.
"We didn't realise Mourinho spoke fluent French, because he hasn't been at a French club. But the time of day that he took the call with Yan and the fact that he spoke fluently in French with him - about his ideas, the project, and how he would fit into the team - showed that he valued that conversation.
"That was a massive point. The key to convincing him."
