Report: Reason for Real Madrid record signing’s absence from squad list for Deportivo La Coruna game

Report: Reason for Real Madrid record signing’s absence from squad list for Deportivo La Coruna game The new season is quickly approaching for Real Madrid as they continue to blitz through their pre-season friendlies in preparation for the first official La Liga clash. Tomorrow, they will take part in their penultimate pre-season friendly and it will be against Deportivo La Coruna in the Teresa Herrera Trophy clash. Earlier today, Jose Mourinho released his  official squad list  for the clash on Wednesday and most of the expected names featured on the list including Vinicius Jr. and Endrick have been called up. The big surprise, however, was the exclusion of the club’s new signing Yan Diomande. Why Diomande was left out Now, as reported by Mario Penalver in a recent update, Diomande’s exclusion from the matchday squad was down to a lack of match-fitness. Diomande is lacking match-fitness. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images) Despite arriving at the club facilities last Friday, the Ivory Coast international has only had two training sessions with the group and is far from as fit as necessary for a pre-season clash. He will, thus, cheer his new teammates from the sidelines on the night and look to make progress for the team’s final pre-season game against Schalke on Sunday. With a few more training sessions under his belt by then, the player will be ready to make his debut for the club. Burden of the transfer fee Real Madrid shelled out a fortune to land Diomande this summer with the negotiations spanning across multiple weeks before an agreement could be reached. Eventually, the Merengues agreed to a gross package of €140 million for the former RB Leipzig ace. Real Madrid’s costliest signing of all time. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) As a result of that agreement, Diomande is now Real Madrid’s most expensive signing of all time. While it is a prestigious record to hold, it is one that comes with massive expectations. Adapting to the pressure at Real Madrid is not for everyone, and to adjust to the high standards of the club while also handling the pressure of the price tag is a very difficult challenge.  Diomande, undoubtedly, will have the same pressure on his shoulders as he nears his debut. His season will have to be phenomenal to justify his price tag, and it is thus important that he starts strong with a debut this weekend.