MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) 鈥� Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande is remarkably unfazed by reports he could be a 100-million-euro ($116 million) signing for one of Europe鈥檚 biggest clubs.
The 19-year-old Diomande has made an impressive start to the Africa Cup of Nations and says he is fully focused on helping the Elephants defend their title.
鈥淚 want to win this competition, this is my biggest dream, and then after go back to my club and try to play there and (learn) everything and play in the Champions League. This is my dream,鈥� Diomande told The Associated Press in Marrakech this week.
Diomande, who joined German team Leipzig in the summer, has been linked with Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich, Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as European champion Paris Saint-Germain.
But they are likely to meet strong resistance from Leipzig, which is healthy financially after big-money sales in recent years and has ambitions of its own after missing out on European qualification last season.
Diomande himself says he鈥檚 in no hurry to leave.
鈥淔or now, I鈥檓 happy there,鈥� Diomande said of Leipzig. 鈥淓veryone likes me there and I鈥檓 enjoying there. I鈥檓 not looking at everything (happening) around me. I am trying to stay focused on my road. I鈥檓 trying to focus on my way. Trying to be concentrated on my club.鈥�
Strong, with explosive pace, Diomande already has six goals and set up three more in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig. He in a win over Werder Bremen in November and needs to wear a protective mask.
Leipzig, which is backed by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull, from Spanish side Legan茅s, where he spent one season and made 10 La Liga appearances including his debut against Real Madrid. He joined Legan茅s after moving from Florida-based AS Frenzi.
鈥淚 had to work for long and I had to travel to a lot of countries for this, and today I鈥檓 making my dream true, so I鈥檓 very proud,鈥� Diomande said of his early travels.
Including his goal in the 3-0 win over Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup last 16, he has three in eight appearances for Ivory Coast. He scored twice in World Cup qualifying and can look forward to a return to the United States for this summer鈥檚 tournament.
鈥淚 studied there, I went to USA. It鈥檚 gonna be good to be back there, to see my friends, to see the countries, and enjoy the World Cup,鈥� he said.
But first, there鈥檚 the Africa Cup, where defending champion Ivory Coast faces seven-time champion Egypt in the quarterfinals on Saturday before a potential semifinal against on Wednesday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to get harder but we are ready and we鈥檙e confident,” Diomande said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to go there and try to fight, have a good spirit, a good mentality and win.鈥�
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AP at the Africa Cup:
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