‘Some wondered if he’d make it’ – Renard names Diomande in Ivory Coast squad

Herve Renard has responded to doubts over Yan Diomande’s place in the Ivory Coast squad by selecting the teenager for his first group since returning as national team manager.

The 57-year-old Frenchman announced a 25-man squad on Wednesday, 11 years after the end of his first spell in charge between 2014 and 2015.

Ivory Coast will face Ghana on 24 September at the Stade de la Paix de Bouake and Somalia on 29 September at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Renard’s side will then play Cameroon in a friendly on 3 October at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, also in Abidjan.

Diomande’s inclusion represents a clear show of faith from Renard, despite the player’s difficult start to life at Real Madrid. The 19-year-old has established himself as a senior figure in the Elephants squad since the second half of Emerse Fae’s tenure, with 14 international appearances and three goals.

After reading out Diomande’s name, Renard appeared to make a pointed reference to questions raised by the Spanish media about whether the forward would retain his place with Ivory Coast.

With a smile, he said: “Some people were wondering if he would be there.”

Diomande joined Real Madrid from Leipzig this summer for 125m euros excluding bonuses, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history and the costliest African player ever.

His opening weeks in Spain, however, have not matched expectations. Initially, the player nominated for the Kopa Trophy was restricted to a place on the bench, with a series of uneventful appearances lasting about 30 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

His form has improved slightly in recent days. The Abidjan-born player has started Real Madrid’s past two La Liga matches, against Rayo Vallecano and Elche.

The first of those appearances did little to ease the doubts expressed by the Spanish press. But Diomande produced a more convincing display against Elche, supplying his first assist since joining Real Madrid before kissing the club badge.

That performance was enough to prompt a more positive assessment from the local media, although he will need to maintain that progress before the change in perception is fully confirmed.