Yan Diomande’s transfer to Real Madrid ‘being held up by lawsuit from forgotten ex-Premier League star’

YAN DIOMANDE’S blockbuster move to Real Madrid has reportedly hit an unexpected snag- with forgotten former Premier League winger Max Gradel at the centre of the row. The highly-rated Ivory Coast youngster is on the verge of completing a dream switch from RB Leipzig to the Spanish giants. Yan Diomande is closing in on a move to Real Madrid but deal has been held up by agency troubles Credit: AFP Diomande impressed in a handful of lively performances at the World Cup Credit: Getty But the transfer has reportedly been delayed by a legal dispute over who is entitled to represent the player. Former Bournemouth winger Max Gradel, through his agency Maxidel Management, has filed a complaint with FIFA claiming it had an existing agreement with Diomande. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! However, global agency Roc Nation Sports, founded by rap superstar Jay-Z-currently represents the winger and handled negotiations with Real Madrid. Maxidel alleges Roc Nation breached its agreement with the player by negotiating the deal despite the agency’s existing contract with Diomande. The agency previously arranged Diomande’s move from Leganes to RB Leipzig and claims it remains the player’s legitimate representative. The dispute has now reached FIFA and could temporarily delay the completion of one of the summer‘s biggest transfers. Under FIFA regulations, unresolved disputes involving player representation can affect the processing of an International Transfer Certificate, which is required to complete an international transfer. Real Madrid are understood to believe they have done nothing wrong and were unaware of the disagreement between the two agencies. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Former Bournemouth man Max Gradel is now a football agent and runs his own agency Credit: Getty The Spanish giants expect to be cleared of any wrongdoing but must now wait for FIFA’s review before the deal can be fully completed. One possible outcome is that Diomande is granted provisional registration while the dispute over agency commissions is resolved. Almost every other part of the transfer has reportedly already been agreed, including the transfer fee with Leipzig, the payment structure and the player’s long-term contract at the Bernabeu. The final obstacle is FIFA’s investigation into the competing claims. WHO IS MAX GRADEL? Football fans will remember Gradel from his spell with Bournemouth after joining the Cherries from Saint-Etienne in 2015. The Ivory Coast international struggled to make an impact in the Premier League before later moving to Toulouse after loan spells away from the south coast. Following his playing career, Gradel moved into football management and player representation, launching Maxidel Management. The agency has since built a growing client list, with Diomande regarded as one of its standout young talents. Maxidel has even pinned a photograph of Diomande signing for RB Leipzig to the top of its Instagram page, highlighting the role it says it played in securing the move. JAY-Z LINK Roc Nation entered the picture more recently after Diomande joined the agency’s roster. Music icon Jay-Z heads Rock Nation the agency that negotiated Diomande’s Real Madrid move Credit: Getty Diomande excelled at Leganes before moving to RB Leipzig Credit: Getty The company, headed by music icon Jay-Z, boasts a number of elite football clients and has a particularly strong presence in Brazil. During his post-World Cup holiday in the United States, Diomande visited Roc Nation’s New York headquarters and attended a show at Yankee Stadium as a guest of Jay-Z. The invitation was arranged by Roc Nation Sports president Michael Yormark, while Jay-Z had also greeted the player pitchside during the World Cup. It was Roc Nation that conducted negotiations with Real Madrid. Now, both the Spanish giants and Diomande are waiting for FIFA to resolve the disagreement before the transfer can finally be completed. Until then, the winger remains with RB Leipzig as he waits for the green light to complete his move to Madrid. Comment now