{"id":1945,"date":"2026-08-03T14:18:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/?p=1945"},"modified":"2026-08-03T14:18:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T06:18:43","slug":"dumfries-steps-into-the-breach-as-diomande-pursuit-stalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/03\/dumfries-steps-into-the-breach-as-diomande-pursuit-stalls\/","title":{"rendered":"Dumfries steps into the breach as Diomande pursuit stalls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/mktynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/mktynews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-1-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Denzel Dumfries was deployed on the right flank for Real Madrid on Saturday, deputising in a role earmarked for Yan Diomande as the Ivorian\u2019s arrival continues to be delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jose Mourinho has identified Yan Diomande as the man to patrol his right flank. While the Ivorian winger is set to be the next addition to the Real Madrid squad, a combination of representative complications and a stalemate with RB Leipzig has delayed his unveiling by weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, the &#8216;Merengues&#8217; boss has been forced to explore alternative solutions during pre-season while he awaits his final reinforcements and the return of his World Cup stars. For the time being, Denzel Dumfries is filling the void on the right wing, occupying the space Diomande is expected to claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dutchman joined Real Madrid earlier this summer, yet few expected Mourinho to deploy him in such an advanced role during his maiden outing in the famous white shirt, given his usual habitat as a wing-back or traditional full-back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The battle for the right flank on standby<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dumfries\u2019 deployment further forward has effectively placed the battle for the right-back berth on hold, particularly following the expiration of Dani Carvajal\u2019s contract. Interestingly, both Dumfries and Alexander-Arnold were named in the starting XI to face Fiorentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mourinho possesses two distinct profiles for the right-back slot: one offers intricate link-up play and a wand of a right foot, while the other provides raw physical power to terrorise opponents down the touchline. However, both players are heavily attack-minded and have occasionally been caught out defensively throughout their careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With less than a month until Real Madrid launch their La Liga campaign, uncertainty remains regarding Mourinho\u2019s preferred XI for his second stint at the Bernabeu. In the interim, he knows he can rely on Dumfries to answer the call, regardless of the role.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Denzel Dumfries was deployed on the right flank for Real Madrid on Saturday, deputising in a role earmarked<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1946,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1945"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1947,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945\/revisions\/1947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}