Realmadrid News

Mahamadou Diarra: "I am a natural born winner. I don't tolerate losing"

You're a perfect example of neighbourhood street football. What was football like in the streets of Bamako, Mali?
I learned a lot from the streets. It's where I truly learned how to play football. Then I attended Salif Keita's school, but I already knew how to play. Neighbourhood football is authentic. Cars didn't drive more than 30 kilometres an hour where I played as a kid. The ball was passed around the streets, and I would dribble and lob balls over 'mobilettes'. The street is the best school there is, but you can't make the national team by just playing there. On the other hand, it was from Keita's school that I earned a spot on the national team.

You have always been proud of your country. So much so that you wear a wristband the colour of the Mali flag.
Wearing my county's flag on my wrist means a lot to me. I am very proud of my people. I wear this wristband during every game.

People in Mali are Real Madrid fans, aren't they?
Almost everyone is a Madridista. I'm sure about 90%. First they liked Lyon, but now that 90% are Madridistas. Real's image has been pasted all over the country since I joined the team. The whole world follows this team.

You played with Juninho Pernambucano and Essien at Lyin. Now you play with Emerson and Guti at your side. Can you compare Lyon and Real Madrid's style in that area of the pitch?
No, it's not the same style. Diarra-Essien-Juninho was very different than Diarra-Emerson-Guti. It's a whole new type of football. You can't compare the two. We played for several years together at Lyon, among other things. Many of us have just joined Madrid. The football, the game, and even the crowd is different. Everything is, really. This is an entirely new project.


Your friend Essien had a really bad first year with Chelsea, but now he is a Stamford Bridge idol. Are you going through a similar patch?
Essien and I speak frequently. Leaving France wasn't easy for him, but now he feels a lot more integrated. Joining a big Club like Chelsea or Real Madrid isn't easy. I am trying to adapt little by little. It also took me a while to get used to Lyon, just like it did when I left Mali for Greece and then Holland.

What does football mean to you?
It's a real pleasure. It's something that makes me happy, that has allowed me to learn various languages, cultures, and meet great people. Football is my life.

Pick one: win or play well.
Win. Always. I feel good when my team wins.

What role did Ronaldo Koeman play in your life?
He has been the biggest help and influence in my football career. I joined Holland's Vitesse when I was 17 years old. He taught me how to be a professional. I learned what being suspended was all about if I arrived late. He taught me everything. I didn't have the discipline then that I do now. I would be benched if I arrived one minute late to training. He demanded my full concentration.

Is it true that he left you off the teamsheet because your cell phone rang?
Yes. My cell phone rang one day when he had already announced the lineup and that I was going to start. He scratched me from the list and told me to sit in the stands. I really didn't understand then, but did get the picture as time went by. I began understanding the rules of football. Koeman is a great friend now. He's my friend and my dad here in Europe. I am, and always will be, grateful for everything he taught me. I was lacking many aspects of the game, but he taught me how to progress in short and long passes. He designed a specific training programme just for me. Thanks to him, I am now a part of Real Madrid.


You went from Mali to Greece. You landed in Crete when you were 16 to be with your brother Aruna. Did you ever think about turning around and returning home?
It was very hard. I suffered a lot. I would call my mom crying and wanting to go home. I then joined the First Team, and they made me a professional after playing a series of matches. My stint in Greece allowed me to move to Holland.

You fellow countryman Kanouté is doing great with Sevilla. What are your thoughts on him?
Kanouté is a great teammate, a great player, and a goal scorer. It's not a coincidence that he's the League's top scorer. He's a very benevolent person. I respect his work. I have been his captain on the Mali national team for three years.

What are you famous reunions and chats with your lifelong friends like on the streets of Bamako?
We call those get-togethers 'grin'. We all meet in the streets of my neighbourhood just to talk about football. We sit in some chairs and talk from two to five in the afternoon. Each friend has a nickname. We have 'Raúl, Rio Ferdinand, and 'Beckham'.

You're kidding...
It's true. We call one of my best friends 'Raoul'. He is a huge admirer. He's actually the captain of the neighbourhood team. We also have Rio Ferdinand and Beckham. You should see our 'Beckham'. His crosses are incredible and his passes are very similar. I love all my mates from my neighbourhood. We have some unforgettable times during the summer.


What's your impression of the authentic Real Madrid Raúl?
He's a great leader. We always look up to him. I really understood who he was when he scored and brought the entire stadium to their feet. Hats off to him. He is truly great.

Fabio Capello tends to say that a little patience is needed with the new signings, like Emerson and yourself. He's used the example of Platini when he joined Juventus and Zidane when he signed with Real Madrid. Do you feel it's an accurate statement?
I have always said that it's hard for a French-style player to adapt to new surroundings. Zidane had a hard time adjusting, but then he showed his true colours. I am not familiar with Platini's situation.

Those who know you say that you are passionate about football, that you are competitive, that you get mad if you lose during a training session, that you cry when you lose an official match...
It's true that I have cried after losing. I cried when I played for Lyon. I have yet to shed a tear here at Real Madrid, but I have cried on the inside when we have lost. Losing to Getafe wasn't a pleasant experience at all.

You won four Leagues and four Super Cups in France in four years. Not bad at all.
I don't think so either. It's great.

Are you a natural born winner?
I am used to winning and raising trophies. I am a winner. We have a great group here, and with a lot of work we'll go far. I am a champion and a respected person, and I am now a part of genuine group that knows how to suffer and win. I came here as a French champion to win titles. We have to work and suffer. Suffering leads to happiness.

What advice did your father give you?
He always told me to overcome any obstacle, to be humble, and to always show what I am capable of. Small, but very important words he told me before I left Mali.


By: Realmadrid.com

posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 4:02 PM