MARRAKESH, Morocco (AP) — Ivorian teenager Yann Diomande is surprisingly unfazed by reports that he could sign for 100 million euros ($116 million) with one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Diomand, 19, said he has made a strong start to the African Cup of Nations and is fully focused on helping the Elephants defend their title.
“I want to win this competition. This is my biggest dream. Then I’ll go back to the club and play there, learn everything and try to play in the Champions League. This is my dream,” Diomande told The Associated Press in Marrakech this week.
Diomande, who joined German side Leipzig in the summer, has been linked with moves to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, and European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
However, it is likely to meet strong resistance from Leipzig. Leipzig are in good financial health thanks to recent big sales and have ambitions of their own after missing out on European qualification last season.
Diomand himself says he’s in no hurry to leave.
“For now, I’m happy here,” Diomande said of Leipzig. “Everyone likes me and I’m having fun there. I’m not watching everything that’s going on around me. I’m trying to focus on my path. I’m trying to focus on my path. I’m trying to focus on my club.”
Powerful and with explosive pace, Diomande has already scored six goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig and is on track to score three more. he broke his nose The team won against Werder Bremen in November, which required them to wear protective masks.
Leipzig is backed by energy drink maker Red Bull. signed diomand He spent one season with Leganés in Spain, making 10 appearances in La Liga, including his debut against Real Madrid. He joined Leganes from Florida-based AS Friends.
“I had to work for long periods of time and for that I had to travel to many countries. And today I was able to realize my dream, so I am very proud,” Diomand said of his early travels.
He has appeared in three of the Ivory Coast’s eight matches, including the goal in the 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup last 16. He scored twice in World Cup qualifying and could be expected to return to the United States for this summer’s tournament.
“I studied there and I also went to America. It would be great to go back there, see my friends, see the countries and enjoy the World Cup,” he said.
But first there is the African Cup, with defending champions Ivory Coast facing seven-time champions Egypt in the quarter-finals on Saturday, and potentially Senegal or Mali in the semi-finals.
“It’s going to be more difficult, but we’re ready and confident,” Diomand said. “We’re going to go there and fight and have a good spirit, a good mentality and try to win.”
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Associated Press at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
