Manchester United splashed out to sign Atalanta winger Amad Diallo on transfer deadline day.
While there will be a little wait until 2021 to see Diallo in action for United, his arrival is undeniably an exciting one.
The Atalanta youngster is a player who is both unpredictable and lethal in attack. He has a directness running with the ball that United do not currently possess.
While just 18-years-old, there is hope that Diallo may be contributing to United’s first team by the end of the season.
There are some similarities with United’s move for Diallo to the deal which brought Anthony Martial to Old Trafford in 2015.
United’s hope for the future
Diallo was signed from Atalanta, a club which has a growing reputation for developing talent. Much like Monaco’s recent success, where United signed Martial from; the Italians made an impressive run in the Champions League last season.
Like Martial, United paid heavily to secure the player in a late transfer window deal.
Diallo will cost £37 million in total, The Times report, a fee made up of add-ons and installments.
United paid £36 million for Martial which could yet still rise to £58 million.
The fee itself helps mark Diallo out as a special talent, as it did with Martial.
This lends an extra degree of excitement to the signing of the Atalanta youngster, and increases expectation over what he will be able to contribute.
Martial’s debut goal against Liverpool may have set a high bar for Diallo to emulate, but it is worth noting United visit Anfield on January 16, by which time the young winger may have done enough to show he is worthy of a place on the Red Devils’ bench.
Anything from him this season though would be a bonus, and it is long term where we expect Diallo to pay off.
United are signing a raw gem who has the ability to be one of the world’s best, and in turn become a regular for the club over the next five years.
Martial has been inconsistent but at times spectacular. United hope Diallo will lean more towards the latter.
It is just good to see United taking a shot on a young player with outstanding potential again.
One of the big mistakes at the club after the Martial signing was not to follow it up with more deals of a similar nature.
Diallo represents a step in the right direction – a sizeable investment which could become a bargain.
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