Europa League: first goal for Ivorian hope Amad Diallo, 18, with Manchester United
Ivorian striker Amad Diallo celebrating his first goal for Manchester United against AC Milan on March 11, 2021. REUTERS - PHIL NOBLE
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
5 mins
The shock of the knockout stages of the Europa League between Manchester United and AC Milan, this Thursday, March 11, ended in a draw (1-1) in which the young Amad Diallo distinguished himself.
Barely entered the game, the Ivorian striker scored a goal, his very first with MU.
The start of a great story for the 18-year-old striker?
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Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford, Donny van de Beek ... Manchester United were deprived of many offensive options on Thursday to challenge AC Milan in the Europa League.
Lacks that allowed Amad Diallo to scratch game time ... and more.
At kick-off, the 18-year-old striker was a substitute, while the Mancunian attack was led by Bruno Fernandes, Daniel James, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
And then, after a tasteless first act and Martial's injury, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Mancuniens coach, launched Amad Diallo from the start of the second period.
When he was a player, Solskjaer was known to be a "SuperSub" ("Super Substitute"), author of often decisive starts.
As a specialist, the Norwegian must have appreciated the effectiveness of Diallo.
First shot with Manchester United and first goal
Only four minutes after coming into play (46th), the n ° 19, who had the colors of his native Ivory Coast on the wrist, scored his first goal with Manchester United.
Bruno Fernandes distilled a long cross forward and Amad Diallo, after infiltrating Fikayo Tomori's back, rose to place a back header.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had advanced, was lobed and had to bow (50th).
AC Milan will finally snatch the draw after additional time thanks to Simon Kjaer (90 + 2nd).
As the statistics company Opta points out, Amad Diallo became the youngest non-British goalscorer in Manchester United's history in the European Cup, at 18 years and 243 days.
And once again, what formidable efficiency on his part: it was his first shot on goal under the colors of the Red Devils.
Recruited at Atalanta Bergamo in January
, Amad Diallo had only appeared twice with Manchester United, in the Europa League in the previous round, against Real Sociedad (7 minutes and 31 minutes played).
This first goal as a Mancunian must mean a lot for this boy who is being talked about more and more in recent months.
Ivorian striker Amad Diallo celebrating his Manchester United goal against AC Milan at Old Trafford on March 11, 2021. REUTERS - PHIL NOBLE
Ivorian, Amad Diallo also has Italian nationality
Because Amad Diallo did not join Manchester United for a piece of bread: the leaders had to pay 25 million euros to bring him from Atalanta Bergamo (+ 15 million euros in possible bonuses).
Native of Abidjan, the dribbler appeared briefly in Serie A last season (three ends of the match, one goal scored).
And before leaving Italy, Diallo was also entitled to an appearance in the Champions League this season, and another in the league.
It represents few minutes on European lawns at the professional level, but the boy's qualities were noticed on the Bergamo side, when he played for the Primavera, the Under-19 team.
Naturalized Italian at the end of 2020, when he was leaving for Manchester United, Amad Diallo has not yet chosen the national team he will represent.
The question may arise soon, as for Moïse Kean before him (the striker loaned by Everton to PSG chose Italy very early).
Last January, while the pocket striker (1m73) joined the British giant,
Rémy N'Gono, consultant of Radio Foot Internationale
, recalled that if he had indeed joined Italy in 2014 and had completed his training there, It was in Côte d'Ivoire, on the side of Adjamé, that Amad Diallo discovered football.
Love to see it 😍
👏 @ AmadDiallo_19
🔴 #MUFC
🏆 #UEL pic.twitter.com/MEyCJAgjD6
- Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 11, 2021
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