"This was a work event for him."
Eason focused on creating a protective environment for the young player to adjust to American life during his developmental adolescence.
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"I tried to really break those walls down and have him trust us," Eason added.
"I was there to take care of him and help him through his adolescence."
During his two-year stay in Florida, Diomande played for UPSL amateur side AS Frenzi near Orlando under coach Tyler Weston, leading them to the Spring Season National Championship with a 2-1 victory in 2023.
"It was exactly what you are seeing now on the TV," Weston said of his first impressions.
"He knew exactly what touches to take, what direction to go and how to beat players."
Diomande earned the National Finals MVP award after scoring both goals in the final, showcasing technical attributes that set him apart.
"He was different," Eason said.
"Whether it was his speed of thought, his technical ability, the control that he used, how he ran with the ball… it was something that we had never seen."
Opposing defenses often targeted the forward with physical challenges, but his resilience allowed him to maintain possession under pressure.
"They would seek out how to create less space for him immediately," Weston recalled. "But once he was on the ball, that was game, set, match."
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Diomande moved to Spanish side Leganes before joining RB Leipzig last summer, where he registered 12 goals and nine assists ahead of the World Cup.
