With the FIFA World Cup now firmly in the rear-view mirror, transfer rumours have once again taken centre stage as fans wait patiently to see their favourite clubs return to action.
Naturally, arguably the biggest club in world football, Real Madrid, is grabbing a lot of headlines.
Coming off an extremely disappointing campaign that saw them end up trophyless for the second year in a row, Los Blancos know they have to get their act together next season, and overhauling the squad over the summer is the need of the hour.
The 15-time European champions have already bolstered their defence by signing Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate, and now, they are looking to add some quality to their attack.
Though they were linked extensively with Michael Olise in the past, they have now decided to turn their attentions to RB Leipzig’s young phenom Yan Diomande.
Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Diomande was on the way to PSG. But Real Madrid swooped in at the last moment to sign the youngster for a reported fee in the ballpark of €120 million.
Much to the frustration of fans, however, despite there being a green light from the player’s side, the deal is still not over the line.
According to sources on X, the key factor delaying the completion of the move is a breach of contract dispute between Yan Diomande and his former agent, whose identity reveal was met with a shock online.
Only 38 years old, as it turns out, Diomande’s former agent is none other former footballer Max Gradel, who has plied his trade in all of the top 3 tiers in English football.
Sorry, WHO is Yan Diomande’s former agent?!
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) August 2, 2026
God I’m old… 😂 https://t.co/YE9xtwHBQz
Though Max Gradel is not a name newer fans of the game will be aware of, he is instantly recognisable for followers that were avidly following the sport about a decade ago.
Just like Yan Diomande, Max Gradel was a tricky winger who was a regular for the Ivory Coast national team.
Even though he was never the biggest superstar at any team he played for, he made a name for himself as a bit of a cult hero during his stints with Leeds United, Leicester City, Saint-Etienne and AFC Bournemouth.
How on earth is ex league one Leeds United player Mx Gradel, the agent of 130 Million wonderkid Diomande.. 🤯 https://t.co/BPn94VbG89 pic.twitter.com/mEHba3c1jW
— Football Remarks (@RemarksFootball) August 3, 2026
At Leeds, Gradel was loved by the Elland Road faithful due to his blistering pace, dribbling ability, relentless work rate, and knack for scoring important goals. He played an important role in helping the club earn promotion to the Championship in 2010.
After impressing with Leeds United, Gradel earned a move to Saint Etienne, where he enjoyed arguably the best phase of his career. He became one of the side’s most potent creative outlets, leading the club to a major trophy in the form of the Coupe de la Ligue in 2013.
Then came his time with AFC Bournemouth. Though he showed flashes of brilliance with the Cherries, he was unable to truly reach the peak of his powers as a serious knee injury disrupted his momentum. Still, he was a fan favourite at the Vitality Stadium.
Another factor leading to his cult-hero status was that many fans from that era have memories of using his character in the hugely popular football video game series FIFA (now known as FC).
In Ultimate Team, one of FIFA’s most popular game modes, Gradel often had cards that were termed “overpowered” by fans, meaning that he played better in game than his reputation suggested. Perhaps, this was a fitting representation of his real life abilities as well.
For players looking to acquire a quality winger on a budget, Gradel was often the first name on the list, as he had desirable attributes such as high pace, dribbling and shooting, all the key ingredients for an effective attacker.
His “hidden gem” cards in FIFA 15, FIFA 18 and FIFA 22 are especially memorable amongst fans of the FIFA franchise.
Gradel ultimately retired from international football in March 2024, and he made his final club-level appearance the following year.
He established his agency, known as Maxidel Management, in 2023. It is headquartered in Abidjan, the same city where both he and Yan Diomande were born.
Currently, Max Gradel is part of the horrible mess around Yan Diomande’s representation which has seen Premier League clubs like Liverpool as well as UCL winners PSG walk away.
