Real Madrid Squad Update: Diomande's Absence in Budapest Clash

Real Madrid head to Budapest without their most expensive summer signing. Yan Diomande will watch this one from afar.

The Ivorian winger, unveiled less than a day ago, has not been included in José Mourinho’s squad for Saturday’s pre-season clash with Ferencváros at the Groupama Arena. His absence has nothing to do with fitness or form. Paperwork, not tactics, has stopped his debut.

Spanish outlet Marca report that Diomande skipped the final training session before the trip to finalise the administrative details of his move. While his new teammates went through their last drills at Valdebebas, he was tied up completing the final steps of his transfer. The result: no first call-up, no first minutes in white. Not yet.

Mourinho, who has seen Carlos Espí jump straight into the group the moment he arrived last week, has chosen a different route with Diomande. This time, caution wins. The club’s most expensive signing will be given more time to settle, absorb the demands, and prepare properly before he is thrown into the action.

The squad departed for the Hungarian capital at 4pm, with plenty of intrigue still packed into the travelling party.

Vinícius back under the spotlight

Vinícius Júnior is on the plane and under the microscope. The Brazilian, fresh from signing a contract extension that ties him to Real Madrid until 2032, is in line to play his first minutes of this pre-season. Every touch will be scrutinised. Every sprint will be read as a sign of what is to come in a new era built around him.

He is not alone. Bernardo Silva and Brahim Díaz are also included after linking up with the team this week, and both could feature for the first time this summer. For a pre-season date in Budapest, the attacking options look anything but low-key.

At the other end of the pitch, there is a quieter but important boost. Dean Huijsen returns to the squad after a muscle injury, having rejoined full training with the group. His presence offers Mourinho a little more breathing room in a back line still waiting for Antonio Rüdiger to hit full fitness. The German defender travels, but the sense remains that he is playing catch-up.

The travelling squad

Mourinho’s list for Ferencváros mixes established stars, new signings and young hopefuls, a familiar pre-season blend with a few heavyweight names sprinkled in.

• Goalkeepers: Andriy Lunin, Mestre, Navarro.
• Defenders: Dean Huijsen, Juan Martínez, Antonio Rüdiger, Lamine Fati, Mario Rivas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Denzel Dumfries, Álvaro Carreras.
• Midfielders: Arda Güler, Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Eduardo Camavinga, Sистero, Lacosta, Cirilla.
• Forwards: Brahim Díaz, Vinícius Júnior, Yáñez, Endrick, Carlos Espí.

The headline, though, is who is not there. Diomande will have to wait for his first taste of Real Madrid duty, delayed by signatures and stamps rather than selection.

For now, Budapest belongs to Vinícius, Bernardo, Brahim and a squad beginning to take shape under Mourinho’s hand. Diomande’s turn is coming. The only question is how long Mourinho intends to keep his record signing on ice.