Amad Diallo

Ivorian footballer (born 2002)

Amad Diallo
Amad with Manchester United in 2021
Personal information
Full name Amad Diallo[1]
Date of birth (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 21)[2]
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, midfielder
Team information
Current team
Manchester United
Number 16
Youth career
2014–2015 Boca Barco
2015–2019 Atalanta
2021–2022 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Atalanta 4 (1)
2021– Manchester United 5 (0)
2022 → Rangers (loan) 10 (3)
2022–2023Sunderland (loan) 37 (13)
International career
2021– Ivory Coast U23 4 (0)
2021– Ivory Coast 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:42, 24 February 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:49, 28 March 2023 (UTC)

Amad Diallo (born 11 July 2002), sometimes known simply as Amad, is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a winger or midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and the Ivory Coast national team.

Born in the Ivory Coast, Amad moved to Italy as a child. He joined the Atalanta youth system in 2015, where he won two Campionato Primavera 1 titles. In 2019, he scored on his debut for the senior team, making him the first player born in 2002 to score in Serie A. In January 2021, Amad joined English club Manchester United. He has had loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland.

Amad made his senior international debut for the Ivory Coast in March 2021, in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game.

Early life

Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast,[3] Amad immigrated to Italy at a young age.[4] He started out at Boca Barco's youth team in September 2014,[5] where he impressed at a Christmas tournament the same year; he was the tournament's top goalscorer as the youngest on the field.[6] Amad was officially registered to the team on 14 January 2015.[7]

Club career

Atalanta

2015–2020: Youth

With a number of Serie A clubs being interested in him while at Boca Barco, Amad moved to Atalanta in 2015.[6] While initially starting with the under-14s during the 2015–16 season, Amad quickly moved to the under-15 team.[6] He played in the Final Eight, scoring against Roma in the final and helping his side win the league title.[6]

During the 2016–17 season, he played for the under-15 side before moving to the under-17s in 2017–18, where he scored 12 goals in 27 appearances.[6] In 2018–19, Amad scored 12 goals and made seven assists in 16 under-17 games, and six goals and six assists in 26 games in the Campionato Primavera 1, the under-19 championship.[8] He won the 2018–19 season with Atalanta.[9]

In 2019, Amad won the Supercoppa Primavera, providing both assists in a 2–1 win over Fiorentina.[10] He scored six goals and made six assists in 25 league games, helping Atalanta win the Campionato Primavera 1 in 2019–20 for a second successive season.[11]

2019–2021: Senior

Amad made his Serie A debut on 27 October 2019, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute against Udinese, and scored his first goal four minutes later in a 7–1 home win.[12] He became the first player born in 2002 to score in the Italian top flight.[13] His first UEFA Champions League call-up came on 11 December 2019, as an unused substitute in a 3–0 away win against Shakhtar Donetsk.[11]

Amad's first league game in the 2020–21 season was on 28 November 2020, as a 77th-minute substitute against Hellas Verona; Atalanta lost 2–0 at home.[14] Amad made his Champions League debut on 1 December, after being subbed on in the 68th minute against Midtjylland in a 1–1 home draw.[15]

Manchester United

2020–21: Debut season

Diallo playing for Manchester United in 2021

On 5 October 2020, Manchester United agreed to sign Amad in January 2021, pending the agreement of personal terms, passing a medical and the issue of a work permit.[16][17] The reported fee was of €25 million – €40 million including bonuses.[18] Amad officially joined on 7 January 2021, on a five-year contract with the option of an extra year.[19]

Amad scored a brace on his debut for the Under-23s, in a 6–3 win over Liverpool on 30 January.[20] He was first called up to the senior team on 9 February, as an unused substitute in an FA Cup fifth round match against West Ham United,[21] which ended in a 1–0 Manchester United win after extra time.[22] On 18 February, Amad made his first-team debut for United as a substitute for Mason Greenwood in a 4–0 away win over Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 tie.[23] His first goal for United came on 11 March, in a 1–1 home draw against AC Milan in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie.[24]

On 13 March, Amad was selected by the IFFHS in their 2020 CAF Youth Team of the Year (U20).[25] He made his FA Cup debut on 21 March, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in a 3–1 away defeat against Leicester City in the quarter-finals.[26] On 11 May, Amad made his Premier League debut against Leicester City, assisting Mason Greenwood's goal in a 2–1 defeat; the goal was the first time in 15 years a teenager assisted another for a Premier League goal.[27]

Amad played his first game of the 2021–22 season on 8 December 2021, starting the UEFA Champions League group stage match against Young Boys.[28]

2022–23: Loans to Rangers and Sunderland

Amad was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Rangers on 27 January 2022, for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[29] He made his debut on 29 January, scoring the opener of the game as a starter in a 3–3 away draw to Ross County.[30]

On 31 August 2022, Amad joined Sunderland in the EFL Championship on a season-long loan.[31] He scored his first goal for Sunderland on 22 October, in a 4–2 home defeat to Burnley.[32] With three goals in five games in December, Amad won the EFL Young Player of the Month award.[33] Amad finished the season with 14 goals and 4 assists across all competitions,[34] including a free kick from 25 yards in the play-off semi final against Luton Town.[35]

2023–24: Breakthrough season at Manchester United

On 30 December 2023, he played his first game for United in over two years as a substitute in the 2–1 defeat away to Nottingham Forest.[36]

On 17 March 2024, Amad scored the winning goal as a substitute in a 4–3 win against Liverpool in the 2023–24 FA Cup quarter-finals. Amad received a second yellow card and was sent off after taking his shirt off in celebration.[37]

International career

Amad was first called up to the Ivory Coast national team on 18 March 2021 for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Niger and Ethiopia on 26 and 30 March, respectively.[38] He made his debut against Niger, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute.[39] On 5 June 2021, Amad scored his first international goal in a friendly against Burkina Faso, through a 97th-minute free kick, to help his team win 2–1 at home.[40]

On 3 July 2021, Amad was named in the Ivory Coast under-23 team for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[41][42] Amad made his Olympics debut, and assisted a goal, in a 2–1 win against Saudi Arabia on 22 July.[43] He made four appearances at the tournament.[44]

Style of play

A winger who is also capable of playing as a mezzala, Amad is a quick and dynamic player with a high technical ability and a good vision of the game.[6] The fact that he is two-footed makes him a versatile player.[6]

Controversies

In July 2020, an investigation into the trafficking of football players was launched by the public prosecutor's office of Parma.[45] Among the involved was Hamed Mamadou Traorè, a distant relative of Amad and his alleged brother Hamed Traorè, who was accused of posing as their father to facilitate their immigration into Italy.[45] The investigation also questioned the relationship between Amad and Hamed.[46]

On 9 February 2021, Amad was found guilty of violating the Italian Sports Justice Code in order to join the football club "ASD Boca Barco" in 2015 under the name "Diallo Amad Traorè".[7] He was accused of falsifying documents in order to fake a relationship with Hamed Mamadou Traorè, an Ivorian citizen resident in Italy, and request a family reunification.[7] Amad requested a plea bargain, with the Federal Prosecutor's Office imposing a fine of €48,000.[7]

Personal life

Amad is Muslim.[47][48] He received his Italian passport in December 2020.[49]

On 11 July 2020, the day of his 18th birthday, Amad changed his Instagram name from "Amad Traoré" to "Amad Diallo", with a caption reading "don't call me Traoré anymore".[50] In September 2020, his name was legally changed to Amad Diallo.[51]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atalanta 2019–20[52] Serie A 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
2020–21[53] Serie A 1 0 1[c] 0 2 0
Total 4 1 0 0 1 0 5 1
Manchester United 2020–21[53] Premier League 3 0 1 0 4[d] 1 8 1
2021–22[54] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 1 0
2022–23[55] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24[56] Premier League 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
Total 5 0 3 1 0 0 5 1 13 2
Rangers (loan) 2021–22[54] Scottish Premiership 10 3 3 0 0 0 13 3
Sunderland (loan) 2022–23[55] Championship 37 13 3 0 0 0 2[e] 1 42 14
Career total 56 17 9 1 0 0 6 1 2 1 73 20
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, FA Cup, Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in EFL Championship play-offs

International

As of match played 28 March 2023[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Ivory Coast 2021 3 1
2023 1 0
Total 4 1
As of match played 28 March 2023
Scores and results list the Ivory Coast's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Amad goal.[57]
List of international goals scored by Amad
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 5 June 2021 Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast 2  Burkina Faso 2–1 2–1 Friendly [58]

Honours

Manchester United

Rangers

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Updated squad lists for 2021/22 Premier League". Premier League. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Amad Diallo: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Chi è Diallo Amad Traorè: attaccante dell'Atalanta". Atalanta YSport (in Italian). 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Non chiamatelo più Traoré: il baby fenomeno Amad Diallo conquista lo United". CalcioMercato.com (in Italian). Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Amad Diallo, la freccia ivoriana dell'Atalanta". Transfermarkt.it (in Italian). 2 December 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Amad Traorè: talento ivoriano classe 2002". World Football Scouting (in Italian). 26 September 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d "La Procura di Parma svelò il sistema dei falsi genitori: patteggiano i calciatori Traore e Diallo". la Repubblica (in Italian). 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. ^ "È Atalanta felix, vivaio senza fine: Traore e Piccoli guidano la nuova meglio gioventù". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  9. ^ Nc.it, Redazione. "Primavera 1 – Albo d'oro: l'Atalanta conquista il suo terzo titolo". Numeri Calcio (in Italian). Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Supercoppa Primavera, Atalanta campione | Sky Sport". Sky Sport (in Italian). 28 October 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  11. ^ a b Grandoni, Alessandro. "SCHEDA | Amad Traoré, attaccante, Atalanta, 2002. Analisi Tecnica e Video". calcionazionale.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Atalanta vs. Udinese – 27 ottobre 2019". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Amad Traore ha segnato il gol del 7–1 in Atalanta Udinese". Sky Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Diretta Atalanta-Verona 0–2: Veloso e Zaccagni, i veneti volano". la Repubblica (in Italian). 28 November 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Champions League debut for Amad Diallo". Atalanta B.C. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Diallo to Join Manchester United in January". Manchester United F.C. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. ^ "United's hopeless pursuit of Jadon Sancho – the real story". The Athletic. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  18. ^ "L'Atalanta dà spettacolo anche sul mercato". Sky Sport (in Italian). 5 October 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Man Utd completed Amad Diallo transfer from Atalanta". Manchester United F.C. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Amad and Hugill inspire memorable win at Liverpool". Manchester United F.C. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Amad Diallo on Man Utd bench for the first time". SportsMax. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  22. ^ Stone, Simon (9 February 2021). "Man Utd beat West Ham in extra time to reach FA Cup quarter-finals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  23. ^ Rostance, Tom (18 February 2021). "Real Sociedad 0–4 Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes scores double in emphatic win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  24. ^ Stone, Simon (11 March 2021). "Manchester United 1–1 AC Milan: AC Milan late equaliser denies United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  25. ^ a b "CAF Youth Team of the Year (U20) 2020 by IFFHS". IFFHS. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Iheanacho's double sinks Manchester United and puts Leicester in last four". The Guardian. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  27. ^ McVitie, Peter. "Man Utd teenagers Diallo and Greenwood link up for goal in 15-year Premier League first". Goal. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  28. ^ Stone, Simon (8 December 2021). "Man Utd 1–1 Young Boys: Youthful United side held in final Champions League group game". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Rangers confirm loan signing of Amad Diallo". Rangers F.C. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Diallo, per lasciare il segno bastano…cinque minuti: l'ex Atalanta subito in gol con i Rangers!". Il Posticipo (in Italian). 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  31. ^ "Amad signs for Sunderland on loan". Manchester United F.C. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Sunderland 2–4 Burnley". BBC Sport. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  33. ^ "Amad Diallo named EFL's Young Player of the Month for December". EFL. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  34. ^ Aswin, Sri (23 June 2023). "Amad Diallo open to Sunderland loan return if he does not get first-team chance". Man United News. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  35. ^ Nair, Abhinav (13 May 2023). "Watch: Can't cope! Amad Diallo's incredible goal for Sunderland in play-off semi-final sees manager Tony Mowbray hilariously rub his face in utter shock". Goal.com. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  36. ^ Stone, Simon. "Nottingham Forest 2–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  37. ^ McNulty, Phil. "Manchester United 4–3 Liverpool aet: Amad Diallo scores dramatic extra-time winner to send hosts into semis". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  38. ^ Ouattara Lakoun, Marcel (18 March 2021). "Côte d'Ivoire: WELCOME Amad Diallo Traoré". Africa Top Sports (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  39. ^ Laird, Conor (26 March 2021). "Amad Diallo debuts as Man United pair join list of AFCON-bound PL stars". 101 Great Goals. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  40. ^ Billy, Red (6 June 2021). "Video: Amad Diallo scores wonder goal for Ivory Coast against Burkina Faso". thepeoplesperson.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  41. ^ Harry, Robinson (21 July 2021). "Amad & Bailly are going for gold at the Olympics". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Ivory Coast confirm Olympic squad". Kickoff. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  43. ^ Harry, Robinson (22 July 2021). "Amad assists for Ivory Coast in Olympic opener". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Ivory Coast boss backs Manchester United's Amad plan in transfer window". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  45. ^ a b "Traffico di calciatori, coinvolto anche il "padre" di Hamed Junior Traorè". Reggionline – Quotidianionline – Telereggio – Trc – TRM (in Italian). 10 July 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  46. ^ Di Landro, Armando (11 July 2020). ""Il talento dell'Atalanta Traore portato in Italia illegalmente": indagati i finti genitori". Il Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  47. ^ "Manchester United Recruit Amad Diallo, Good News for Paul Pogba". Newsy Today. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  48. ^ "Join Manchester United, Amad Diallo Uploads Surah Al-Furqan Verses 65–66: Okezone Ball". Netral.News. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  49. ^ "Amad Diallo: Winger gets Italian passport ahead of transfer to Manchester United from Atalanta". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  50. ^ "Non chiamatelo più Traoré: il baby fenomeno Amad Diallo conquista lo United". CalcioMercato.com (in Italian). 6 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  51. ^ "Amad Traoré cambia nome: il gioiellino dell'Atalanta ora è Diallo". Goal (in Italian). 27 September 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  52. ^ "Games played by Amad Diallo in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  53. ^ a b "Games played by Amad Diallo in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  54. ^ a b "Games played by Amad Diallo in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  55. ^ a b "Games played by Amad Diallo in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  56. ^ "Games played by Amad Diallo in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  57. ^ a b "Amad >> Internationals". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  58. ^ "Côte d'Ivoire vs. Burkina Faso 2–1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  59. ^ Stone, Simon (26 May 2021). "Villarreal 1–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  60. ^ Duncan, Thomas (21 May 2022). "Rangers 2–0 Heart of Midlothian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  61. ^ Mullen, Scott (18 May 2022). "Eintracht Frankfurt 1–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  62. ^ "The winner of the PFA Vertu Motors Championship Fans' Player of the Year - 2022/23". 90min.com. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  63. ^ "Amad scoops Club accolade". Sunderland Association Football Club. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amad Diallo.
  • Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
  • Amad Diallo – UEFA competition record (archive) Edit this at Wikidata
  • v
  • t
  • e
Manchester United F.C. – current squad
  • v
  • t
  • e
Ivory Coast men's football squad2020 Summer Olympics
Ivory Coast