Premier League duo Southampton and Arsenal missed out on Ousmane Diomande before his move to Sporting Lisbon with the centre-back tipped to become a world-class defender in Portugal, via Record.
In the last few years alone, Sporting snapped up the likes of Pedro Porro, Pedro Goncalves, Bruno Fernandes before selling them on for a substantial profit. The hope will be that, if Diomande can maintain his current rate of progress in the Portuguese capital, he will soon be going the same way as, for instance, Manchester United’s talismanic number eight.
Sporting signed Diomande from FC Midtjylland for around £7 million in January; wasting no time in slapping a £70 million release clause in his contract.
And, if Amza Gamal is right, then it won’t be long before that clause is tempting the trigger of some of Europe’s most deep-pocketed clubs.
Sporting Lisbon beat Arsenal and Southampton to Ousmane Diomande
“Diomande started training here when he was ten years old,” says OS Bobo chief Gamal, president of the club where Diomande began his career in the Ivory Coast.
“He is very technical and shows a lot of intelligence playing short and long passes. He has a good sense of anticipation. Added to these qualities, he also has speed and is efficient in his duels.
“Sporting is a great European club, which plays good football. I am convinced that Diomande will continue to evolve, and that he will be one of the best central defenders in the world.”
According to Portuguese reporter Bruno Andrade, Arsenal showed an interest before Diomande put pen to paper with the 2021 Primeira Liga champions. Under sporting director Edu Gaspar, the Gunners pride themselves upon signing some of the most exciting young talent around, but Diomande will not be following in the footsteps of Gabriel Martinelli and co.
A Bola, meanwhile, say that another club with a track record in youth development – Southampton – also scouted Diomande during his impressive loan spell with CD Mafra in the Portuguese second tier.
“I see the interest of several clubs as something perfectly natural,” says Mafra coach Ricardo Sousa. “He has above average quality, and I think his quality will not stop here.
“He is a fast player, very aggressive, and can play with his right or left foot. But he has to continue to evolve and be humble.”
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