Manchester United fans are getting very excited by the ‘seriously talented’ Amad Diallo ahead of next season — and rightly so
At just 20-years-old, he's arguably been not just Sunderland's best player all season but one of the best in the Championship. Is he ready for the Premier League?
With the 2022/23 campaign now drawing to a close, Manchester United are on the verge of securing top-four and perhaps even an FA Cup, but most fans are already looking towards the next season and what aspects they can build on — the squad being the most obvious answer.
It only took a few injuries and suspensions to reveal that Erik ten Hag‘s options were much thinner than first thought, with several players in key positions suffering setbacks throughout the season, including Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Marcel Sabitzer and, of course, Lisandro Martinez.
However, rather than dipping straight into the transfer market, fans are delighted to have received regular reminders throughout the season that there’s already an existing Red who could be added into the mix come August: Amad Diallo.
The 20-year-old is on the books at United but has spent the year on loan at Sunderland, where he has enjoyed a seriously impressive campaign and has been dubbed by many as “one of the signings of the season”. Here’s one of his most recent from the Championship play-off semi-final on 13 May:
Ok, so the youngster can hit a naughty little free-kick which happened to come in a big game — not totally unheard of, but why exactly are people getting so excited by Amad’s game on the whole?
Not only does that happen to be more than any other Sunderland player but it also saw him win the EFL’s Young Player of the Month for January and the club’s Young Player of the Year award in April.
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Moreover, he does have a tendency to score the odd banger. Just a few days before scoring the goal shown above, he netted this absolutely wonderful first-time strike in an equally important game which saw the Black Cats cement their spot in the playoff positions:
Amad Deserves a chance next season what a player 👏
As you can see, United fans are understandably very excited by clips like these and for anyone that’s actually sat down to watch him this year, you’ll know that he’s often looked like one of the best players on the pitch, even regardless of his limited experience.
Not only was he the club’s top goalscorer this season, sitting in 11th overall in the league table when it comes to the number of goal contributions, but he’s regularly the one driving the attacking impetus for Tony Mowbray’s side week in, week out.
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Speaking of his progress, the Sunderland boss recently said that Amad is an “amazing player” and often “finds the game too easy”, adding that even if he doesn’t play for United next season, he will go for “big, big money”, having already pretty much accepted he’s unlikely to return to the Stadium of Light.
Following his massive equaliser against Luton Town, even Gary Lineker felt he had to jump on Twitter to laud the Ivorian starlet, labelling him a “seriously talented” prospect.
Stunning goal from the seriously talented Amad Diallo. A thing of beauty that levels it.
His incisive passing, driving forward runs and fine finishing might not have been enough to see Sunderland all the way through to the playoff final, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Luton, but he’s already done more than enough to prove he’s one of Europe’s brightest prospects.
Sharing an emotional and disappointed statement after the defeat, social media was awash with people praising him as “the best loan signing ever” and some even going so far as to call him the best player the club has had in years.
Erik ten Hag has already admitted that he hopes to have Amad feature in United’s first-team squad from next season, insisting that “we loan such players to let them develop and make progress, to bring them back”, and it is thought both he and fellow youngster Facundo Pellistri will be given a proper audition for regular football during the upcoming pre-season.
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With testimonials like this, it’s surely worth seeing how he fares.
The last chapter of the the Amad Diallo loan spell tonight, one of the best players we’ve had in years. We’ve waited a long time to see a player like that grace the Stadium of Light again, the boy is special, maybe just maybe our best loan signing of all time. A joy to witness.
He went on the state that the club is “really strong on them in the matter of the way [they] mentor” and maintain regular “communication throughout the season… especially Darren Fletcher”, adding that the former United midfielder turned coach and current technical director “invests a lot in such processes and the aim is to bring them back as a better player and with better experience.”
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, United are already in talks to extend Pellistri’s contract even after only a handful of appearance and it looks increasingly likely that they will do the same with Amad, with the journalist insisting that he “dreams more than anyone” of being given a chance in the first-team.
United might still be missing an out-and-out striker in their forward line but it’s safe to say that their wide attacking options for next season look promising with Amad back at Old Trafford.
Featured Image — Sunderland (via Twitter)/Amad Diallo (via Instagram)
Sport
MCR Basketball to play special knockout game for the 2026 MOBO Awards in Manchester
Danny Jones
Manchester Basketball are set to play an exclusive knockout game here as part of the official MOBOs Fringe events for 2026, with this year’s awards coming to Co-op Live.
There’s a place in the last eight if they can seal a victory, too.
After what feels like a tricky couple of years for Greater Manchester’s main basketball franchise, things look to be on the up for the local team.
Rebrands and rebuilds aside, the Super League side is gradually climbing back up the standings, and with their European North Basketball League (ENBL) campaign still going strong, they could book their spot in the quarters with a win ahead of a big partnered evening in just a few weeks.
Set to face off against Croatian outfit, KK Dubrava, from Zagreb on 10 March, just a couple of weeks before the MOBO Awards get underway in Manchester, the match will be one of several events that the organisation are collaborating with.
With this year marking the MOBOs’ 30th anniversary year and, like with the BRITs, our city set to host it for the first time ever, this special game sets the tone for what’s to come in and around event week.
Fans can expect not just the major red carpet moments, but live DJs spinning hip-hop and afrobeats (courtesy of DJ Kay and special guest, DJ G2), plus a live halftime performance from a MOBO artist.
It’s yet to be confirmed who’ll be popping up centre court, but watch this space…
In case you missed the previous announcements, the 2026 MOBO Awards will see global rap icon Eve and acclaimed comedian and broadcaster Eddie Kadi host the landmark night for the North, not mention lots of other exciting stuff throughout the full Fringe schedule.
Performances already confirmed on the night include rising British superstar Olivia Dean, as well as FLO and Tiwa Savage, with more still to come.
Better still, for MCR Basketball, they also have the Super League Cup final coming up over at the AO Arena next month, too.
Tickets for all of these events are live now and available to purchase as we speak.
However, with prices for Manchester Basketball vs Dubrava, specifically, priced at just £5, we don’t expect these ones to last long.
Once again, set to be hosted on Tuesday, 10 March at the National Basketball Performance Centre over in Belle Vue, the tip-off is set for 7pm; you can secure your seats HERE.
And in case you were wondering what other big competitive events are coming to Manchester, Co-op Live is booked for its first-ever big sporting final.
Featured Images — Peter Simmons/Publicity pictures (supplied)
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Kate Scott praised for impassioned speech following more racism in Champions League
Danny Jones
Football pundit and sports presenter Kate Scott has been met with plenty of praise for her ‘expert’ handling of the fallout following more racism in the Champions League this week, delivering an emotional and impassioned speech about discrimination live on TV.
The Manchester-born broadcaster, formerly Kate Abdo, was serving as the host on her usual CBS Sports panel on Tuesday, 17 February, when the story of the playoff game between Benfica and Real Madrid – which included a worldie from Vinicius Jr. – was overshadowed by more allegations of racial abuse.
In case you missed it, Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making racist remarks by both Vini Jr and Kylian Mbappe, but supposedly covered his mouth so as not to be caught on camera; the match was then stopped for more than 11 minutes.
Speaking in the aftermath amid the following European fixtures the next day, the Withington-schooled journalist and University of Salford graduate delivered an eloquent reaction to the controversy with peak professionalism.
Absolutely pitch perfect, and all those involved in preparing the statement should be applauded.
While Scott herself recognised that it’s a shame we even have to keep talking about issues like these rather than the sheer simplistic beauty of, well, ‘the beautiful game’, her response is an example of the job being done at arguably its very best: factual, ethical, moving and inspiring.
As you can see, Scott goes on to say, “This isn’t Real Madrid versus Benfica – it is right versus wrong. Vini Junior and Kylian Mbappe said that there was repeated racial abuse.
“Gianluca Prestiani said they misheard, but he covered his mouth to hide what he said from the cameras, and hopefully, we can all agree that if what you are saying on a football pitch is shameful enough to have to hide it from the public, then you’re wrong.”
The Portuguese club, which ultimately lost 1-0 in their first leg at home on the night, have released a statement reaffirming their commitment to “equality, respect, and inclusion” but reiterates that they believe Prestiani and feel he is now the subject of a “defamation campaign”.
Conversely, in a definitive and emphatic closing message, she signs off by adding the following: “The racial diversity on a football pitch in the Champions League is the representation of the global love for this game and the global belonging in this game. This is the very spirit of football.
“And if you don’t agree, then respectfully, you are the one who doesn’t belong.”
This is what the Athletic is supposed to be. Telling important stories & giving in depth analysis. I hope this signals that it will be its focus moving forward.
From CBS ‘Golazo’ show being applauded for tackling the subject head-on, to Cross herself being labelled as everything from “a role model” and “a benchmark” to “the best on the planet” in the outpouring of reactions on social media, it’s fair to say they absolutely nailed it.
Sadly, this is one of many recent examples of prejudice being shared publicly across various UEFA tournaments and beyond in recent years, but the only way we can truly help anti-hate initiatives is by continuing to call them out.
Danny Jones -
22nd May 2023 
