If you listen to the critics, Manchester United did just about everything in their power – accidentally, of course – to hinder the development of one of their most talented young prospects.
From that ill-fated loan spell at Rangers to his rather confusing exile from Erik ten Hag’s starting XI, Amad Diallo’s emergence as a genuine, first-name-on-the-team-sheet-sort-of starter at Old Trafford feels more like a victory for his own perseverance than anything else the club themselves have done.
Three-and-a-half years on from his arrival from Atalanta – £19 million invested in a teenager with only 24 minutes of first-team football under his belt – Amad’s Manchester United journey has been filled with potholes and stop signs.
There was that disappointing and perhaps ill-fitting stint north of the border in 2021/22. Amad, though a cut ahead of most in Scotland in terms of pure talent, struggled with the unrepentent physicality of the Scottish game.
His next loan spell would prove to be far more successful. Amad dazzled at Sunderland, hitting wondergoal after wondergoal while inspiring the Black Cats to the play-offs.
As was typical of Man United’s luck during 2023/24, an injury he picked up during pre-season meant that Amad had to wait until December to make his first appearance back at Old Trafford.
Amad Diallo making up for lost time at Manchester United
There have been times, too, when it looked as if Ten Hag simply didn’t share the same enthusiasm as many others behind the scenes at Man United for the diminutive, baby-faced winger.
The Ivorian remained on the bench even after his iconic FA Cup winner against Liverpool. In fact, his long-awaited promotion into United’s starting XI only came after Antony’s position became all-but untenable.
Fortunately, though it took Ten Hag a few months longer than it should have to swap Antony for Amad, the latter is now firmly installed ahead of the £82 million Brazilian in the Red Devils’ pecking order.
And while many United fans may be loathe to give John Murtough much praise for anything really – the former football director viewed as a symbol of the Glazer-era mediocrity – he does deserve at least some semblance of credit for the success Amad is enjoying today.
John Murtough was a big backer of Amad
The Manchester Evening News report that Murtough was big supporter of the twinkle-toed 22-year-old behind the scenes.
Murtough, who was one of many to suffer the axe following that Ineos takeover, insisted that Amad would thrive if given a run of ten consecutive games in the Sunderland XI during his loan on Wearside.
Murtough was never the best judge of talent, and got a lot wrong. But, with six goals in those first ten starts, he was most certainly on the money when it came to Amad.
It was fitting, maybe, that Amad scored his first United goal with an ingenious backwards header against none other than AC Milan only a day after Murtough was hired back in 2021.
“He’s got so much quality,” fellow United starlet Kobbie Mainoo told the Premier League’s official TikTok account. “I think he will go into the season flying.”
With a goal against Brighton and an assist for Marcus Rashford in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Southampton, Amad is indeed flying high, And, at this rate, it will be a while before he hits the ground.
“Dynamite,” is goalkeeper Tom Heaton’s description, speaking to BBC Sport after Amad’s ‘explosive’ finish against Real Betis in pre-season.
“Since I have been here his ability has been incredible. Now you see more confidence and more belief and he is getting more game time, then you can see his game coming together.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/qov3e6S