Amad Diallo hints he wants to stay and play for Manchester United (MU) his entire life and asserts he is ready to fight for a spot in Erik ten Hag’s squad.
The 22-year-old Ivorian winger, Amad Diallo, only appeared 12 times for Manchester United last season, after playing on loan for Sunderland and Rangers twice. Coach Erik ten Hag is very impressed with Amad Diallo’s attitude. Now, Amad declares, “I want to play for MU my entire life.”
Amad Diallo particularly excelled in the latter part of last season. He scored the decisive goal in the last minute of extra time in MU’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarterfinals at Old Trafford. Immediately after scoring, an ecstatic Amad Diallo took off his shirt to celebrate and received a second yellow card, leading to his dismissal.
Amad Diallo expresses his desire to play for MU his entire life. PHOTO: GETTY
MU’s head coach Erik Ten Hag said, “This has to be Amad’s year” after the 22-year-old played a key role in MU’s victory over Rangers in Edinburgh, and then started him in the 1-2 loss to Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in LA, USA, last weekend.
Speaking ahead of MU’s friendly match against Real Betis at the San Diego stadium, Amad Diallo believes he can have a long future at Old Trafford. Amad states he is determined to establish himself in MU’s first team after speaking with coach Erik Ten Hag.
Amad Diallo shares: “Yes, why not (play for MU my entire life). I am very happy here. I think everyone is happy with me because I smile at everyone and have good energy. Why not stay here forever? I am very excited. I believe in the coach.
I know last season I didn’t play much, but this season will be good for everyone. We had a conversation, a positive one, and coach Erik Ten Hag told me good things. Everyone thinks coach Erik Ten Hag is a good person. Sometimes I talk to Ten Hag, and he gives me a lot of confidence.”
Amad praises coach Ten Hag at Manchester United. PHOTO: PA
Amad Diallo’s tour in the US last summer turned into a disaster when he got injured in the opening match against Arsenal in New Jersey and had to undergo knee surgery, keeping him out until December. But now, Amad Diallo, who wants to play for MU his entire life, is ready to compete with Antony and Jadon Sancho for a position on the right wing of the “Red Devils.”
Amad Diallo adds: “I think everyone wants to play football, that’s why during training, you need to give your all to fight and get into the main team. We have a good team, good players, so the coach will make the final decision about who plays and who is on the bench. You need to be ready.
Things were not easy when I got injured before last season. I had to sit out for a long time, but the most important thing is to come back stronger, to help the team. In the end, I am happy with my contribution. I have forgotten the past, and now I am thinking about the present.”
When asked by the media if he rewatched his goal that sealed the 4-3 win against Liverpool, Amad Diallo excitedly shares: “Yes, many times. It was the most important goal of my life. I am very happy to have scored that goal. Even now, I still can’t believe it. I am very confident, and finally, the coach started to trust me and let me play more.”
Amad Diallo joined MU from Atalanta in 2021 with a contract worth up to £37.2 million. He has become close friends with other young MU players like Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund. Amad Diallo believes they can become the core of MU for many years to come.
Amad Diallo has a close relationship with young MU stars like Mainoo, Garnacho, and Hojlund. PHOTO: PA
Amad Diallo says: “I hope so. The coach trusts me, he trusts the players. He brought Garnacho here two years ago, gave him a lot of playing time, Kobbie Mainoo last season, and this season Ten Hag will bring another young player from the youth academy to the first team.
The coach has a lot of trust in young players, and I hope this season he will give me more playing time, but my goal is to prove myself in training and start for the team.
I think this relationship is very strong because we are young players. I have a good relationship with all the players, but I have a better relationship with them than with others. Rasmus Hojlund is a good guy, also came from Atalanta like me. Kobbie Mainoo, I, and Garnacho share the same agent. Kobbie Mainoo is a handsome guy. So, I am very happy to be part of Manchester United.”