Amad Diallo is already starting to live up to the hype at Manchester United after scoring a brace on his debut for the U23s in a thrilling 6-3 victory over Liverpool.
Amad Diallo Scores Two Goals in Manchester United U23 Debut
Living Up to the Hype
The 18-year-old’s arrival was announced on the final day of the summer transfer window for a £37.2 million fee, that raised plenty of eyebrows given the Ivorian’s lack of first-team experience at Atalanta.
The anticipation around an exciting young prodigy is nothing new, and further fuel to that fire was recently provided by Enzo Guerri, president of Diallo’s former club Boco Barco, who claimed the teenager was “destined for greatness.”
But today’s performance on Merseyside will do plenty to whet the appetite amongst United fans, as they saw his potential first hand against their bitter rivals.
Diallo showed brilliant anticipation for his first goal after nicking the ball away from Reds defender Billy Koumetio and producing a tidy finish beyond goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga.
Grabbing the Headlines With a Panenka Penalty
The winger then got his second and United’s sixth goal of the afternoon in some style with a Panenka penalty, which he chipped straight down the middle of Marcelo Pitaluga’s goal to complete a comprehensive day’s work for Neil Wood’s side.
His two strikes came either side of Joe Hugill’s brilliant four-goal haul, but it will be Diallo that grabs the headlines ahead of what is surely an inevitable first call-up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s senior squad in the coming weeks.
The Norwegian says it is up to Diallo to prove that he can be the man to fit into the right-wing position in his side, having already rotated the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in that role.
It is still very early days, but Solksjaer will hope that Diallo can live up to those expectations and be the latest in a long line of wingers to forge a successful career at Old Trafford.
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