Amad Diallo Biography: Childhood, Career and Achievements

The winger at Manchester United, Amad Diallo Traore's journey defines a footballer’s life across continents and cultures. From the bustling streets of Abidjan to Old Trafford, his story tells a tale that transcends borders. From Italian football to English stardom, his rise showcases the power of relentless ambition. 

Childhood

Born on July 11, 2002, Amad Traore grew up in the Ivory Coast with West Africa’s vibrant football culture. Football served as both passion and a pathway to opportunity. His early days were spent in Ivory Coast’s economic capital, where the bustling metropolis helped him to idolize Ivorian legends like Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré.

From early childhood, Amad had the power of close control, pace, and the ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations, which have continued to be his trademark in recent years. The family’s modest circumstances meant that football gave them a chance to change their lives forever. 

At the age of ten, Amad’s life took the risk of sending the player to Italy for his growth. While the family made the sacrifice, the player faced the typical challenges of immigration, like language barriers, cultural differences, and being separated from parents at an early age.  However, his natural adaptability and strong character helped him navigate these challenges while maintaining focus on his football development. 

Starting his early career with Boca Barco in Italy, Atalanta saw talent in the young player, who was ambidextrous. Atalanta’s youth system absorbed him at the start of the 2015/16 season where he worked on his tactical discipline. Over the next three seasons, the teenager played in Atalanta’s youth system across the age groups. He progressed from the U-15, U-17, and U-19 before getting to the senior squad. He made it to the senior squad at the start of the 2020/21 season. 

Career

While he became a permanent member of the senior squad in the 2020/21 season, Amad Diallo made his breakthrough appearance in October 2019. Promoted to the first team squad, he came on in the 77th minute against Udinese at just 17 years old. He became one of the youngest players in Atalanta’s history to feature in the Italian top flight. In the 2020/21 season, he made his first-ever Champions League appearance against Midtjylland, where he featured in a 1-1 draw. 

Following the performances and limited game time in Italy, Manchester United came calling for the player. The Old Trafford outfit identified his potential and shelled out a fee of €21 million that could rise to €40 million with add-ons. At Manchester United, while he was initially assigned to play in the under-23 team to adapt to English football, Amad made big strides. Ole Gunnar Solskjær gave his first-team debut against Real Sociedad in March 2021, where he scored a memorable header on the European stage. However, post Ole’s departure, the regular game time became hard for the player. 

In the search for regular game time, Amad opted for a loan spell where he went to Scottish outfit, Rangers, to play his 2021/22 season. On loan, he played 10 games and bagged three assists. He also played a huge role in bringing Sunderland to the playoffs of the EFL Championship in the 2022/23 season. In 37 games, he contributed 16 goal contributions. He showed consistency and versatility in the attack and the midfield, making him a fan favorite at Sunderland and Manchester United. 

Despite this, the start of the 2023/24 season was not fruitful for the players under Erik ten Hag. He has just featured in nine Premier League games with a goal and an assist to his name. The Dutch manager preferred others over the winger, raising the discontent among the player and frustration among the fans. 

It took half a season of the 2024/25 campaign to realize the value of the Ivory Coast winger. Ruben Amorim, the new manager at Old Trafford, recognized the player’s potential and gave him more game time. Despite injuries, Amad had 26 Premier League appearances for the Old Trafford outfit and bagged eight goals and six assists. While the club struggled to achieve consistency, Diallo had a breakthrough season and looks to deliver more for Manchester United in the upcoming years. 

Achievements

While Amad Diallo continues to establish a footprint in world football, he has won multiple titles with the clubs he has featured for. He has an FA Cup to his name with Manchester United. He also won the Scottish Cup with Rangers in 2021/22. He was the Italian Supercoppa winner in 2019/20 alongside winning the Youth Cup with Atalanta’s academy twice.