Manchester United have officially unveiled the newest member of their squad- winger Amad Diallo. He’s not a January transfer window pick-up though as this deal was done in the summer period. He’s now signed, sealed and delivered.
Amad Diallo, 18, moves over from Atalanta on a four and a half year deal that will keep him at United until June 2025. The contract includes a club option for an additional year. United paid £18.2m, with an additional £19m payable in add-ons that are contingent on performance for the young man.
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— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2021
Diallo only made five senior squad appearances for the Serie A side, and only acquired 24 minutes of playing time in the league. His first chance for action in a United shirt will be against arch-rival Liverpool on Sunday. It’s a massive top of the table clash with huge Premier League title implications. If you’re betting on this game, like would be at 12betpro.com then you’ll see Liverpool (-106) as heavy favorites while Manchester United (+250) are substantial underdogs.
The draw is priced at +270.
“As a club, we have followed Amad for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game,” reads a club statement attributed to United manager Ole Gunnar Solskajer.
“Manchester United has such a proud history of developing young players and everything is in place to enable Amad to reach his potential here.”
Diallo, an Ivory Coast international, moves to a club where has a countryman teammate. Central defender Eric Bailly had great things to say about his fellow Ivorian.
“He’s a young player with good talents but we know it is important to keep calm with any new guys,” said Bailly.
Here he is ?#MUFC @AmadDiallo_19 pic.twitter.com/DCTUQAoNxz
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 13, 2021
“I think he will do well but it important to keep calm with him. I am ready to help him. I’m ready to help every player. That, for me, is very important. When I came to this team, I had players with big experience.”
Bailly then referenced the club’s elder statesmen players, who looked out for him when he first arrived at Old Trafford.
“I remember [Wayne] Rooney, Ibra [Zlatan Ibrahimovic], Antonio Valencia. Players like this helped me when I came,” he added.
“So when young players come, it’s very important to help these guys.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank, partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and SB Nation. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.