Diallo told where he must improve to ‘survive’ at Man Utd
Amad Diallo’s former coaches have pinpointed the aspects of his game he must work on to “survive” at Man Utd.
Ever since reaching an agreement with the Serie A outfit on October 5 – the final day of the summer transfer window – preparations have been under way for the 18-year-old’s Old Trafford arrival.
Diallo has now completed a medical, work permit and personal terms, signing a deal until 2025 at Man Utd with the option of a further year.
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The initial fee for the winger is understood to be 21million euros (£18.7m) and add-ons could see it reach 41million euros (£36.5million), with Diallo now just awaiting visa clearance before travelling to Manchester.
On the announcement of his signing, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called Diallo “one of the most exciting young prospects in the game”.
However, those that know him best reckon he has a lot to work on before he can succeed in the Premier League.
Denis Cerlini, who was Diallo’s coach at amateur side Boca Barco, thinks he could struggle initially with the physicality of the Premier League.
Cerlini told BBC Sport: “Physically, Amad wasn’t the strongest at Boca Barco, and his heading abilities aren’t good.”
With former Italy international Giovanni Galli echoing those thoughts on this build.
“He must add a few kilograms of weight in order to survive in the Premier League,” Galli said.
Considered one of the most exciting prospects in Italy, it is understood that Diallo has been on United’s radar since 2016 and consistently received the highest ranking when scouting that age range.
The head of academy recruitment, chief scouts and technical chief scout all ran their eye over the Ivorian, who has made five first-team appearances for Atalanta.
Cerlini, who worked with Diallo from the age of 12, added: “We didn’t discover Amad, but rather he just came to us. It was a great stroke of luck.
“From the very first moment, it was evident the kid was special. He was very bold and quick, possessed great technique and a strong shot, and executed everything at great speed.
“Amad was popular in the dressing room. He made a lot of friends, learned Italian and seemed to be a very determined guy who knew exactly what he wanted.”