The charismatic figure of Amad Diallo holds an array of talents in his wheelhouse, and this season will be crucial for him to showcase them.
The Ivory Coast winger signed for Manchester United in January 2021 for a fee of £37.2million from Atalanta but has yet to make a significant impact.
He arrived under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the Norwegian was sacked just ten months later following a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Watford at Vicarage Road.
Undeniable ability saw an accelerated rise to the heights of Serie A – with interest arriving from every major league in Europe.
“Amad Diallo is a future star, trust me,” said former teammate Papu Gomez Following his move to the North West.
“During our training, he seems like Lionel Messi!
“You can’t stop him”.
Diallo has made 21 appearances for the Red Devils – netting on three occasions – including a memorable header against AC Milan in the UEFA Europa League in March 2021.
He has also had loan spells at both Rangers and Sunderland since signing – with a shining contribution for the latter earning the PFA Championship Fan’s Player of the Year award for the 2022-23 campaign.
A campaign of injury and frustration
The 2023-24 season began in the worst possible manner for the young winger, with injuries leading to minimal game time under Erik ten Hag.
In a pre-season outing against Arsenal last July, Amad played 13 minutes in the 2-0 win.
It would be his last time featuring until December 2023, following a knee injury sustained during the fixture.
The dismay was evident for the talented winger. A lengthy rehabilitation saw him ruled out until a 36-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
He began to earn more playing time in 2024, but not until he scored the famous winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinal did he get the recognition he deserved.
His celebrations led to a second yellow card as he carelessly walked through a rocking Old Trafford tunnel, sealing an iconic moment that will live long in the memory of the Manchester faithful.
The Ivorian became a regular feature towards the tail-end of the campaign, scoring and assisting in a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United.
May was a memorable month, with three consecutive starts in the final league outings.
He went on to play 75 minutes of United’s final day of the season victory over Brighton before missing out on the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
However, his performances highlighted what he has in store for the club should he be given more opportunities to shine under Ten Hag.
Reckoning season
Now established as a first-team name, the upcoming season presents an opportunity to solidify his status.
Ineos had shown interest in Diallo for Nice before acquiring a minority stake in the Manchester giants, offering a loan spell before his move to Sunderland.
The interest represents a longstanding admiration for his talents and an expected willingness to entrust Ten Hag in his integration to the side.
Therefore, pressure will ensue on the 22-year-old with ample competition for the right wing in Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, and Jadon Sancho.
Judging by his confidence on the field against Rangers yesterday evening, one suspects he is ready for the challenge.
His performance during a notable opening 45 minutes against the Scottish side earned plaudits, with his goal a deserved notch on an impressive belt.
The manager reserved special praise for Amad afterwards, highlighting the necessity to embrace his opportunity.
“We have to see Amad in a different way,” the Dutchman told MUTV.
“Of course, he’s still young but he is not inexperienced any more.
“Last season he had bad times with bad injuries. Before that, he was in the Championship and he had a great season.
“At the end of last season, he had a very good time in our first team and played some good games. Now for this season, this has to be the year.
“It’s great that he starts like this. On Monday he couldn’t play, he was not allowed to go into Norway, but today he could play and he played a very good game.”
I suspect this will motivate him as he continues to grow and build a stronger relationship with other youngsters at the club – including Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo.
This season will play a pivotal role in Amad Diallo justifying exactly why Manchester United spent that money on him over four-and-a-half years ago.
Are you looking forward to seeing more of our talented winger?
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