Amad: How Manchester United star’s loan to Rangers helped shape young striker | Football news
Amad Diallo is proof that progress is not linear.
It’s no secret that Amad has become one of Manchester United’s excellent players in this period.
From the outside, the time is just right. Marcus Rashford has fallen out of favor and similar questions are being asked about Alejandro Garnach’s future. This means that Amad will always be an excellent deputy for positions in wider areas. However, this opportunity was earned the hard way.
Before the winning hat-tricks against Southampton, the winning goals at the Etihad or the equalizer at Anfield, it was a cold and lonely time in Scotland for Amado.
When Amad completed his move to Old Trafford in January 2021, then United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called him “one of the most exciting young prospects in the game”. The 18-year-old has just left Atalanta in a deal worth around £37.2m with all add-ons.
The high fee meant it was a job that many turned up their noses at. The move came under further scrutiny when, after just nine first-team appearances, Amad was deemed unfit for the rigors of Premier League football.
It was at this time that United fans took notice of his tricks, when he came off the bench to score a stunning header against AC Milan in the Europa League, but with his playing time further limited, in January 2022, Amad was loaned to Rangers for the remainder of that season.
Amad’s impact on Rangers was immediate. He needed just four minutes to score on his debut in a 3-3 draw against Ross County. But despite the perfect start, the flashes in the debut proved to be his highlight. Under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Amad played a total of 502 minutes in 13 games, scoring three goals in a memorable spell at Ibrox.
A 3-0 defeat against rivals Celtic, where Amad was hooked in stoppage time, proved to be his last Rangers start in three months. However, he was included in the starting eleven for Rangers’ victory in the Scottish FA Cup Final in March of that season. The Gers also reached the Europa League final that year, but Amad was an unused substitute for the duration of their campaign.
Ahead of United’s clash with Rangers on Thursday, his former captain James Tarvernier spoke of the ‘learning curve’ that toughened Amado in Scotland.
“I think so [his time in Scotland] would teach him something. He’s really improved since then,” Tavernier said when asked to reflect on his time as Amad’s teammate.
“Obviously they test you at the Old Firm or you can go to places where they only have a few fans, so it’s a different learning curve.
Despite a difficult spell and failure to make an impression during his six-month loan spell, Tavernier believes Amad’s talent spoke for itself.
“I was always convinced [he could reach the level he’s at now]”, he said.
“He showed really good signs at Rangers, then he was in and out of the team. He had a really great spell at Sunderland on loan and he followed that up at Man United.
“He’s really showing his talent at the moment so he’ll be a dangerous man we’ll have to be aware of tomorrow because he’s really fit. I’m looking forward to playing against him.”
To become Man Utd’s face of the future
Few things are certain at Old Trafford, but a turbulent start to Amorim’s tenure at United hasn’t stopped Amado from shining in the shadows. People will point out his form and how he adapted seamlessly to Amorim’s instructions in a way his team-mates failed to, but it took time for Amado to understand his role at United.
His loan spell at Sunderland was a bigger success than his months at Ibrox, but that still didn’t convince Erik ten Hag of his talent. Amad returned to United in June 2023, but a knee injury ruled him out for the first six months of the season.
He didn’t really come into his own until United’s incredible FA Cup quarter-final win against Liverpool, where Amad scored the winner in extra time. United would later win the FA Cup, but Amad played thirty minutes during the semi-final and was an unused substitute in the final.
Amad began this campaign with typical enthusiasm. In just four starts in the Premier League under Ten Hague, he contributed two goals. His performances led to fans calling for more involvement from Amado. Ten Hag’s decision to ignore the 22-year-old until his dismissal in October is one that the Dutchman has come to regret over time.
Amad’s growing role and influence earned him a deal to secure his future at Old Trafford until 2030 with a new deal in January. On the face of it, Amad appears to have redefined himself at United, but the truth is that his progress has required patience, setbacks and a loan spell at Rangers.
