sport news Amad Diallo's Man United career finally looks ready to take off, writes CHRIS ... trends now
After Amad Diallo went down in Old Trafford folklore with his incredible extra-time winner against Liverpool, it perhaps wasn’t surprising the young Ivorian forgot he had already been booked. Off came Amad’s shirt in celebration and off he went, dismissed by referee John Brooks for a second yellow card.
Fortunately, United’s 10 men held on for the remaining seconds to clinch a famous 4-3 win over their old rivals on Sunday and a place in next month’s FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
‘It was one of the best games for Manchester United and I scored a last-minute goal against Liverpool. It was an unbelievable moment for me,’ said Amad.
‘I believe in myself, and I want to thank the fans and my family for supporting me every day. It is very special for me because it was my dream to play for United.
‘The manager believes in me. He gives me a lot of confidence and I want to continue like this. I am on the bench but every time I am ready to come in and fight for the team. I wait for my chance and, for me, every game is like a Champions League final.
Amad Diallo wrote his name in Man United folklore with his 121st minute goal against Liverpool
Amad was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration
The Ivorian will hope his winning goal can act as a launchpad for his Manchester United career
‘It was the perfect moment. I forgot the first yellow! But it was important we won, so I am very happy.’
It might not be the only thing Amad wants to forget about a season that promised so much after he returned from a successful loan spell at Sunderland last summer.
Indeed, his Old Trafford career has not yet lived up to expectation since United agreed a fee of £19million, potentially rising to £37m, with Atalanta for the youngster in January 2021.
The transfer was overshadowed by allegations that he used fake documents and bogus parents to move to Europe from Ivory Coast. Diallo, who dropped the surname Traore on his 18th birthday, was fined £42,000 by the FIGC, Italian football's governing body.
The youngster scored his first goal for United in a Europa League tie against AC Milan, but it took three years for his second to arrive in Sunday’s epic cup win over Liverpool.
Amad spent the second half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Rangers and last season at Sunderland. The 21-year-old returned from Wearside last summer with the PFA Championship fans’ player of the year award after contributing 14 goals and four assists to Sunderland’s season which ended with defeat in the play-off semi-final against Luton Town.
‘I was at Sunderland last season and I came here to wait for my
