How Aliou Traore is getting on at Parma since his Manchester United release

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Not every player who passes through Manchester United’s academy can make it into the club’s first team, and young midfield prospect Aliou Traore saw his spell at Old Trafford come to an end last summer.

Traore had signed for Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, and there were high hopes he could emulate fellow Frenchman Paul Pogba.

A bright start for United’s under-18s side saw the comparisons grow. Traore’s athleticism put him a class apart, but at under-23 level, he had less of a regular impact on games.

Traore pushed for a loan move last year and signed with French Ligue 2 side Caen. However, despite a highlight of facing former side PSG in the cup, and the team winning promotion, Traore was a peripheral figure and failed to make an impact, and it was little surprise he was released by Manchester United last June.

After a little wait to find, or choose, a club, Traore signed with Serie B side Parma, and is still waiting for his career to truly take off.

How Traore is faring in Italy

Traore claimed to have several offers and felt Parma was the best one for him. Speaking to Sport Parma he said: “I had other offers but I could choose my destination: I was immediately struck by Parma’s project, an ambitious project. This is one of the main reasons that prompted me to come here.”

The central midfielder admitted the chance to play with legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was one of the positives.

Traore said: “What can I say, before for me playing with him meant choosing him for video games and we often joke that he could be my father because I am 20 years old. Working with him day after day is like a dream, all the advice he gives me is very important to grow.”

The youngster made his debut as a substitute last November against Lecce, but has largely had to deal with waiting. Traore has been an unused sub 13 times, and at other points, failed to make the matchday squad.

Traore made his second appearance of the season a fortnight ago, playing 27 minutes of a 1-0 win over Vicenza, to add to the 11 minutes he had earlier in his first showing.

He explained he learned a lot at Caen, and added that a current United player was a big inspiration for him, which could bode well for his future despite his slow start in Italy, adding: “For work ethic and attitude I would say Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Traore has a contract with Parma until 2024. Sitting 14th place in Serie B, they are well out of the race for promotion, and he could find he gets a few more chances before the end of the season.