The shock from the knockout stages of the Europa League between Manchester United and AC Milan, on Thursday 11 March, ended in a draw (1-1), with the young Amad Diallo excelling. Barely into the game, the Ivorian striker scored a goal, his very first with MU. The start of a great story for the 18-year-old striker?
Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford, Donny van de Beek … Manchester United were deprived of many offensive opportunities on Thursday to challenge AC Milan in the Europa League. Deficiencies that allowed Amad Diallo to scrape playing time … and more. At kick-off, the 18-year-old striker was a replacement, while the Mancunian attack was led by Bruno Fernandes, Daniel James, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
And then, after a tasteless first act and Martial’s injury, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Mancuniens coach, launched Amad Diallo from the start of the second period. When he was a player, Solskjaer was known for being a “SuperSub” (“Super Substitute”), author of often crucial starts. As a specialist, the Norwegian must have appreciated the effectiveness of Diallo.
First shot with Manchester United and first goal
Just four minutes after coming into play (46th), No. 19, who had the colors of his original Ivory Coast on his wrist, scored his first goal with Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes distilled a long post forward, and Amad Diallo, after infiltrating Fikayo Tomori’s back, rose to place a backside. Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had advanced, was ripped off and had to bow (50). AC Milan finally get the draw after extra time thanks to Simon Kjaer (90 + 2.).
As statistics firm Opta pointed out, Amad Diallo became the youngest non-British goal scorer in Manchester United’s history in the European Cup after 18 years and 243 days. And once again, what a formidable efficiency on his part: it was his first shot at goal for the Red Devils.
Recruited to Atalanta Bergamo in January, Amad Diallo had only appeared twice with Manchester United, in the Europa League in the previous round, against Real Sociedad (7 minutes and 31 minutes of play). This first goal as a Mancunian must mean a lot to this boy who is getting more and more talked about in recent months.
Ivorian, Amad Diallo also has Italian nationality
Because Amad Diallo did not join Manchester United for a piece of bread: the leaders had to pay 25 million euros to bring him from Atalanta Bergamo (+ 15 million euros in possible bonuses). Native to Abidjan, the dribbler appeared briefly in Serie A last season (three ends of the match, one goal scored). And before leaving Italy, Diallo was also entitled to a Champions League appearance this season and another in the league.
It is only a few minutes on European lawns at the professional level, but the boy’s qualities were noticed on the side of Bergamo when he played for Primavera, the Under-19 team. Naturalized Italian in late 2020, when he traveled to Manchester United, Amad Diallo has not yet chosen the national team he will represent. The question may soon arise, as for Moïse Kean in front of him (the striker loaned by Everton to PSG chose Italy very early).
In January last year, while the pocket strike (1m73) joined the British giant, Rémy N’Gono, Consultant for Radio Foot International, recalled that if he had come to Italy in 2014 and had completed his training there, it was in Ivory Coast, next to Adjamé, that Amad Diallo discovered football.
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