Amad Diallo “gaining more confidence” – Manchester United boss

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Amad Diallo’s blockbuster move from Atalanta to Manchester United in Janaury caused shockwaves around England; £18.7m, with the potential for this to rise to £36.5m, for a player who’d appeared just five times in senior football, was seen as excessive.

However, after scoring three and assisting three in just two U23 appearances for United, Diallo has impressed fans, coaches and pundits alike, and looks set to make his first-team debut before the end of the season.

Included in the first-team squad for the FA Cup fifth round tie against West Ham on Tuesday night, Diallo’s outstanding start to life in England has pushed him firmly into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans, especially with the gaping hole on the right of United’s attack.

He didn’t come off the bench against West Ham, unsurprising given United needed an extra-time winner from Scott McTominay to progress, but Diallo’s instant impact on the U23 side, alongside the likes of Shola Shoretire, has certainly given Solskjaer something to think about.

One man who’s witnessed first-hand the talent that Diallo possesses is Manchester United’s U23s manager Neil Wood and the boss has certainly been impressed with Diallo’s start.

“You see he has ability and he’s linking up well.

“He doesn’t really have a relationship with any of these boys here, he came to Liverpool and did well and the same [in last Friday’s 6-4 win against Blackburn]. 

“He’s training with the first team and doing well and he’s still new to England and England’s style of football so it’s going to take time and like all young players you have to be patient with them. He’s gaining more confidence as the days go on.”

With United still fighting for the Premier League, Europa League and the FA Cup, Diallo may be called upon to make an impact in the first-team; if his performances for the U23s have told us anything, it’s that he’s more than ready to make the step up.