Man Utd have Paul Pogba to thank after Erik ten Hag discovers new hero | Football | Sport
No matter how his Manchester United career unfolds from here, Amad Diallo has cemented his name in the club’s iconic folklore with his 121st-minute goal to dump Liverpool out of the FA Cup. Amad hasn’t had it easy at Old Trafford, though, and Paul Pogba has reportedly contributed to keeping him afloat.
The 21-year-old has made just 13 appearances since joining United from Atalanta in an initial £17million deal in January 2021.
Amad spent an unsuccessful period on loan at Rangers before coming into his own for Sunderland under Tony Mowbray last season.
He was a fan favourite at the Stadium of Light as he helped guide the club to the Championship play-offs and showcased a glimmer of the potential that convinced United to make a move.
Amad remained at United last summer after suffering an unfortunate injury in pre-season and has been disappointed to play just 98 minutes of football with no starts.
Since landing in England, he has faced a battle to acclimatise. But his legendary quarter-final strike against Liverpool could launch his career at Old Trafford.
The Ivorian is reportedly seen as a right-winger who can also make an impact as a false nine and more centrally in attacking midfield.
If he kicks on and becomes a valuable player in the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era, Pogba will have contributed to his journey.
According to The Athletic, Amad was considered a quiet and polite player in the early stages of his United career when he was a teenager.
It’s claimed that Pogba and Eric Bailly, both French-speaking, made the effort to become supportive figures for Amad and help him integrate into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.
Pogba was widely criticised for his contribution on the pitch in his six years after returning to United from Juventus in a then-world record £89m transfer.
But he was a widely liked member of the dressing room and deserves plaudits for his role in laying the foundations of Amad’s life at the Red Devils.
United technical director Darren Fletcher’s recent comments underline how highly Amad is rated in M16, pinpointing his “high level of technical ability” and “immaculate” first touch.
“He’s a technical player who likes receiving the ball in the pockets and tight spaces,” Fletcher added.
“He likes dribbling, playing one-twos and running, but something he also has is runs off the ball.
“Against Milan [for his first United goal], he darted in from wide across the line, and he’s decent in the air for his size. You can be good in the air without being tall in terms of your technique.”
