At 21 years of age, Amad Diallo is a name many supporters feel deserves an opportunity to showcase his skills in the Theatre of Dreams weekly.
Following his move to Manchester United in January 2021, his chances have been limited, with his notable time in English football spent with Sunderland in the Championship.
But, having shaken off a troublesome injury that deprived the Ivory Coast international of a hard-earned pre-season with Erik ten Hag’s side, 12 appearances during the campaign have left many folks purring for more.
As the players enjoy their downtime after an exhilarating FA Cup victory, the focus shifts towards a new season that many suspect will be Diallo’s long-awaited Premier League arrival.
Destined for bright lights
Born in Abidjan – the former capital of the Ivory Coast – Amad’s family emigrated to Italy when he was a young boy.
His passion for football was evident from an early age, beginning his Italian journey with Boca Barco’s youth outfit. His initial performances caught the attention of visiting scouts – earning him official registration in 2015.
Within months, Serie A side Atalanta snapped the youngster up and integrated him into their U14 academy side.
From the beginning of the 2015-16 season, aged 13, his rise was impressive – moving to an integral member of the back-to-back Campionato Primavera U19 winning side in four seasons at 17 years of age.
His progress was rewarded by the legendary Gian Piero Gasperini, with the influential attacker making his senior debut against Udinese as a 79th-minute substitute on 27 October 2019, taking only four minutes to score his first senior goal.
He made five appearances before catching the attention of Manchester United, with the 20-time English champions agreeing a €25 Million move in October 2020.
Integration into a British backdrop
Following the completion of his move, then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was thrilled by the prospect the Ivorian offered his side.
“As a club, we have followed Amad for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game,” the Norwegian told the club’s official website.
“Manchester United has such a proud history of developing young players and everything is in place to enable Amad to reach his potential here.”
With that, his rise through the age ranks in Italy continued in Manchester, with the player seemingly unfazed by the change in surroundings.
Amad netted a brace against Liverpool during his U23 debut in January, inevitably earning a senior call-up on 9 February.
Although he remained an unused substitute, he would debut nine days later as a substitute against Real Sociedad in a Europa League round of 32 tie. He netted his first goal for the side against AC Milan in the following round.
Historically – following a Premier League debut on 11 May against Leicester City – an Amad assist for Mason Greenwood was the first in 15 years a teenager had set up another teen for a Premier League goal.
Although featuring from the start against Young Boys in December 2021, the decision to develop the talented winger with a loan spell at another senior outfit partitioned the fanbase.
The highs and lows of temporary moves
The 21-year-old joined Scottish giants Rangers on January 27, debuting two days later and scoring the opener against Ross County.
However, his time up North received a mixed review, with 13 appearances across all competitions and a failure to impose himself on the group’s philosophy.
A move to Sunderland on January 27 for the 2021-22 campaign offered an entirely different dynamic.
He netted against Burnley in October, with three goals in five outings in December, earning the EFL Young Player of the Month.
He ended the campaign with 18 goal contributions in 42 appearances – leading The Black Cats scoring charts with 14. His outstanding efforts returned the PFA Championship Fan’s Player of the Year award for a stellar season.
Present day
A frustrating injury during pre-season led to a lengthy rehabilitation period on the sidelines. After a two-year absence from the United senior setup, Amad returned as a substitute on December 30, 2023.
His iconic game-winning goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final meeting in March endeared him to the Stretford End, with several promising cameos inspiring supporters in calls for further appearances.
He featured in each of the last seven Premier League fixtures, adding his first league goal against Newcastle in a 3-2 victory in May.
Given his limited exposure to the first team, the sample size of his playing time and minutes makes it impossible to provide a comparison against alternative players.
However, his confidence and ability on the ball supplied a different dynamic to Ten Hag’s side, with his ball-carrying and press resistance an assured sight for supporters.
Despite his size, Amad appears unfazed by the prospect of battling your typically brutish Premiership defenders and possesses an undeniably proficient footballing IQ through his playmaking and positional sense.
With fresh reports signalling an ‘integral’ role within the first team for the Ivorian – per the MEN – a youthful attacking quartet of Amad, Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund is joined by the hugely impressive Willy Kambwala in defence.
Given the nature of the Ineos-inspired impact on this United side, a desire to build a sustainable future around a talented core of kids is reminiscent of days gone by.
It would appear, following an uncertain introductory path, that Amad Diallo has earned the opportunity to shine on the brightest stage of all in 2024-25.
There is a certain swagger when he is in possession – almost as if he belongs.
Let us know how you feel about the former Atalanta man in the comments or through our socials.
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