Amad Diallo was the Ivory Coast’s hero earlier in the week with a late winner against Ecuador in their first game of the group stage in this year’s World Cup. United fans will be all too familiar with Diallo’s knack for this, most famously in the 4-3 victory of arch rivals Liverpool in 2024’s FA Cup semifinal and 2-1 victory over city rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last season.
The Ivorian, who joined the club in 2021 as an 18-year-old, has established himself as an important member
of the United squad in the last two seasons, but it has taken him a while to get there. After an underwhelming six months on loan at Rangers in 2022, he starred for Sunderland in their push for promotion to the Premier League with 14 goals and four assists in all competitions in the 2022-23 season, but it wasn’t enough to convince Erik ten Hag that Diallo could become a regular at Old Trafford.
He impressed during Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s short interim period and was trusted by Ruben Amorim in various wide roles, including at right wing-back. His proclivity to turn up in the big moments, his defensive work rate, and positional versatility have won him over to United fans, but his numbers, even during his best periods, have never been extraordinary. Even his greatest advocates are not expecting him to explode into someone who can contribute to 30 goals and assists in a season, but his two goals and three assists in the league last season were way below the standard required from a forward at a big club.
That didn’t stop Michael Carrick from trusting him, as Diallo provided some much-needed balance to an imperfect attack and team, but it bears reminding that we’re not talking about a Wayne Rooney or Angel Di Maria here, two star players who made a name for themselves by putting themselves in complete service of the team. In fact, even the more capable forwards in the current United side lack the quality of a Rooney and Di Maria, which is why the likes of Diallo will have to push themselves much harder in the coming season.
Diallo, who will turn 24 next month, can no longer be considered a player of potential if United want to sit at the top table once again. Diallo didn’t have a moment comparable to the one from earlier this week for United last season, but it should provide him, for United’s stake, with some much-needed confidence ahead of a season that will likely define how United do in seasons to come.
