Liverpool prepares offer for player who went viral with letter to his sister
Liverpool is preparing an offer of around 100 million euros, which is equivalent to R$600 million, for the Ivory Coast striker, Yan Diomandé. The 19-year-old player went viral this week after publishing a letter to his late sister, Roxane Diomandé.
On Thursday (18), the newspaper The Ahtletic revealed that the Premier League club is the one showing the most interest in Diomandé, who is also in Paris Saint-Germain's sights.
Even with Liverpool's willingness to pay the million-dollar amount, Leipzig indicated that the proposal is still not enough. The expectation is that an amount of more than 130 million euros will be needed to change the situation.
Paris Saint-Germain has not yet sent an official proposal to Leipzig and is behind Liverpool in terms of the player's personal preference, according to sources from the same newspaper.
The saga of interest in Yan Diomandé began in January this year, months before the start of the World Cup. Until about a year and a half ago, Diomandé played for the DME Sports Academy in Florida.
In fact, in this same period last season, his name was still little known on the international scene, even after the investment of 20 million euros made by RB Leipzig to sign him. The German club's bet came after the player played just 500 minutes on the field for Leganés, from Spain, in the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.
This season, the striker missed Leipzig in just one Bundesliga match, due to commitments with his national team. Throughout the campaign, he accumulated 12 goals and nine assists in 33 league games, helping the team finish in third place and secure a place in the Champions League.
Diomandé returns to play with Ivory Coast against Germany this Saturday (20), at 5pm (Brasília time), at Toronto Stadium, in a game valid for the second round of Group E of the 2026 World Cup.
Moving letter to her sister
Died at the age of 15 in 2025, Roxane was the focus of a nostalgic and promising message that the 19-year-old player published on Wednesday (17) on The Players Tribune platform.
The text, entitled "Querida Roxane", reveals the trajectory of the RB Leipzig midfielder, who left a life of scarcity in Africa to become a professional athlete in the Bundesliga, one of the main leagues in the world. Diomandé emphasizes that this rise was only possible thanks to the encouragement and unconditional support of his sister.
The most painful point in the letter is the description of Roxane's death. Just weeks after making his debut for Leganés, aged 18, against Real Madrid - a "surreal dream" - Yan received the devastating news. Roxane died at age 15, after "someone put something in her drink at a party."
Diomande describes the shock and emptiness he has felt since then. "It's like I'm not even human. Since you died, I've been completely empty. I don't think I even shed a tear the day they told me you were gone. I was in shock," he confesses.
The player says he sees the competition as a "stage" to honor Roxane. "Every time I score a goal, I will make sure everyone knows your name. I will make sure they don't forget you. I will prove you right, or I will die trying," he concludes.
Source: CNN