The 21-year-old has had a slow but highly-eventful career since joining the Red Devils three years ago, and it can still have a happy ending
The week had begun with Amad Diallo deleting all references to Manchester United on his social media accounts and writing a cryptic message in French which translated as: "This will all end." Speculation, whether true or not, was rife that he had had enough of being overlooked by Erik ten Hag and was looking for an exit.
The week ended, however, with Amad scoring the most important goal of the Red Devils' season against Liverpool and sparking utterly wild celebrations at Old Trafford.
"He's been working hard and not had the opportunities he wished, but if he wants to have more opportunities there's no better way to prove it than nights like tonight," said Marcus Rashford post-match. Bruno Fernandes added: "He got his reward because he’s doing the right things. He deserves it."
Amad's goal completed an incredible turnaround from United, and it could now spark his own comeback, from a figure who had almost been forgotten about to a player who could still play a key role in the season and have a future at the club.
Getty Raw talent
Amad naturally described his 121st-minute strike against Liverpool as "the best goal in my career", but the truth is it had little competition, especially considering his otherwise quiet career with United. It was only his second goal for the club, despite arriving three years previously after signing from Atalanta in a deal worth a total of £37 million ($47m).
His debut strike was a glancing header in the Europa League against AC Milan at Old Trafford in March 2021, when the stadium was kept empty due to coronavirus restrictions. He barely had any opportunities to build on the momentum of that first goal, though, as he made just 12 appearances in his first spell with United, just three of which were starts.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United's manager when Amad arrived, had hailed the then 18-year-old as "one of the most exciting young prospects in the game, a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United".
But the Norwegian and his successor, Ralf Rangnick, clearly felt he was too raw, as he was loaned out to Rangers in January 2022. His sojourn in Glasgow did not go to plan either, as he made just four starts in the Scottish Premiership among 14 appearances in total.
AdvertisementGettyBumps in the road
That was another bump in what has been a fraught journey in European football for Amad, who was previously caught up in an investigation into alleged player trafficking.
In 2021, he was fined €48,000 (£41,000/$52,000) by the Italian Football Federation for using fake documents to enter the country after travelling over from the Ivory Coast with Hamed Mamadou Traore, who had claimed to be his father. Amad used to be known as Amad Diallo Traore, but has since removed the 'Traore' from his name in an effort to separate himself from the controversial case.
Amad rediscovered his quality while on loan at Sunderland last season in the Championship, scoring 17 goals, many of them top-draw strikes from outside the area. Tony Mowbray, his coach at the Stadium of Light, nicknamed him 'the magician', and he dragged the Black Cats into the play-offs, where they were eventually beaten by Luton Town.
GettyInjury nightmare
There was, therefore, plenty of excitement about his return to United, and Amad caught the eye during pre-season games against Leeds and Lyon. However, he suffered a serious knee injury in the first game of the Red Devils' tour of the United States, against Arsenal.
The injury was a huge stroke of misfortune for Amad, as he would surely have gotten chances in United's first team as Mason Greenwood left on loan for Getafe, Jadon Sancho was banished from the squad after falling out with Erik ten Hag, and Antony had a leave of absence to deal with accusations of domestic abuse, as well as struggles with his form.
Amad did not return to action until five months later when he came off the bench against Nottingham Forest in December, although it was not a happy return as the team lost 2-1. Amad, however, had shown plenty of promise and earned some praise from Ten Hag.
"He is very ball secure. He can bring a key actions, final passes, score a goal," the manager said. "And so I think he has some weapons. That is always what you are looking for with offensive players."
Getty Using his weapons
Despite his effusive words, Ten Hag gave Amad few more chances. He did not play again for six weeks until he was introduced with 10 minutes to go in another defeat, this time to Fulham. Although he had been out previously with an illness, he must have also felt aggrieved at the fact that he had not started that match while Omari Forson, who had no previous first-team experience, had been given the nod instead.
Amad then got 17 minutes of action in the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Nottingham Forest, but was an unused substitute for the next games against Manchester City and Everton. When Ten Hag called upon him on Sunday when United were trailing Liverpool with five minutes to go of normal time, it felt like an act of desperation.
Had the Red Devils lost, it would have been another disappointing episode in what has been an underwhelming United career. But instead, Antony's goal sent the game into extra-time. Amid the chaos of two teams furiously trading attacks, Amad showed he was up for the fight. And he brought the 'weapons' Ten Hag knew he had.
Amad did not wait for the ball to come to him. He sought it out. He mugged Darwin Nunez and as a result the ball dropped to Scott McTominay, whose pass allowed Marcus Rashford to equalise.
He continued to defend doggedly whenever Liverpool had the ball, and when the Mereseysiders won a corner just as penalties beckoned, he was the one who seized the ball from Harvey Elliot, leading Alejandro Garnacho to sprint down the pitch. Amad followed, and after first considering giving the ball back to Garnacho, he decided to go it alone, and was rewarded.
