Top News

Yan Diomande’s proposed move to Real Madrid has been temporarily stalled because of a reported dispute involving the agents connected to the transfer.

In the final days of July, RB Leipzig winger Diomande agreed personal terms with Madrid after Paris Saint-Germain ended their pursuit.

Los Blancos are set to pay more than £100 million for the 19-year-old, with reports saying PSG had a final offer of £102.5m for the Ivory Coast international turned down.

That led the French club to issue a statement saying: “The asking transfer fee and salary demands were completely disproportionate and distortive – and PSG will not break its principles of rational financial management and squad balance.

“As a two-time consecutive Champions League winner and the most successful club in recent years, PSG will also not engage in the inflationary and manipulative games of certain player agents – and will instead calmly and confidently continue its transfer planning.”

It had appeared to be only a matter of time before the teenager – who was the subject of a £69m bid from Liverpool in June – was officially announced as a Madrid player, where he is expected to sign a five-year contract.

However, the move has now run into an unforeseen problem.

According to AS, the transfer is being delayed by a ‘dispute between agents’, with former Leeds United player Max Gradel, through his company Maxidel Management, on one side and Roc Nation – Diomande’s representatives since February this year – on the other.

The report says Maxidel, which arranged the Ivory Coast international’s move from Leganes to Leipzig last year, has lodged a complaint with FIFA alleging breach of contract, because Madrid have been negotiating with Roc Nation, the agency owned by rapper Jay-Z.

The Spanish publication claims this development ‘casts a shadow over this transfer’ and says that, under FIFA rules, it could directly affect the registration of the winger. Roc Nation believes it is the player’s only representative, but Maxidel insists it still holds his rights until he officially leaves Leipzig.

Madrid were reportedly ‘unaware’ of the issue and it is said to be ‘beyond their control’. As a result, they will have to ‘weather the storm’, with the transfer fee, paperwork and the player’s contract with Los Blancos virtually ready. But if the club pays the wrong party, the Spanish giants could face punishment, which is why the matter must be resolved.

FIFA has reportedly received Maxidel’s complaint and is now looking into it. AS says the matter comes under the International Transfer Certificate process, which deals with disputes between agents over a player’s representation rights.

This can reportedly hold up a transfer and, in extreme circumstances, even stop a player’s registration from going through. However, FIFA reportedly ‘tends’ to prioritise the player’s right to work or play for his new club.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast journalist Malick Traore said on the issue: “Real Madrid are angry with Diomande’s representatives at Roc Nation, after discovering that the player is still tied to a contract with other agents.”

So until these unexpected issues surrounding commission and registration rights are settled, Madrid supporters may have to wait a bit longer for progress on the Diomande transfer.

If this situation causes a major delay, Madrid may have even more reason to want to keep Arsenal target Vinicius Junior.