5 days Ago By [email protected] (Steven Railston)
Manchester United surprised fans when they signed Amad for £19million rising to £37m from Atalanta in October 2020. It was a large fee for an 18-year-old who had only played nine times, making just three starts, for Atalanta's first-team, but it's a transfer that is now paying off. “We have followed Amad for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game," said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
"It will take time for him to adapt but his speed, vision and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition. He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.” Amad officially joined United in January 2021 and, almost five years on, he's vindicating his price tag.
Amad is enjoying a tremendous season and he scored the winner against Manchester City on Sunday evening to give United supporters another unforgettable ending to a match. ALSO READ: Maguire breaks silence on his future after derby victory ALSO READ: I saw what Zirkzee did after Amad goal - fans will love it Some would argue that Amad's goal against Liverpool in the special 4-3 win in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and his goal against City are worth the close to £40m fee he commanded. You could say whatever Amad achieves now is just a bonus, but it feels like he's got another level to reach and it's not just a purple patch.
This campaign has been his first proper opportunity to show what he can do in a United shirt and he's taken the chances he's been given with both hands. "I don’t want to talk about just Amad," said Amorim after the derby win. "A lot of players here are improving, are working hard, are suffering, and that is a good thing when you suffer.
"Amad is in a good moment. Erik [ten Hag] brought Amad to the first team, Ruud [van Nistelrooy] did a great job and we continued with the good moment of Amad and Amad did a great job. "Now let's be careful with Amad, don’t make the same mistakes we made in the past with the younger guys.
Let's push him down a little bit, praise him, but the next game is a new story." It was interesting to hear Amorim mention Ten Hag when he was asked about Amad. Ten Hag played Omari Forson, who now plays for Monza, over Amad and overlooked him for Antony in the final weeks of his tenure, which are two decisions that have aged like sour milk.
Amorim also praised Van Nistelrooy's coaching of Amad after the 4-0 win against Everton and doffing his hat to the Dutchman is fair, as he started Amad during his interim spell. Fans have wondered who they should praise for signing Amad and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was responsible on paper, as he was in charge then, but Solskjaer wasn't the driving force behind his arrival and it's thought he only signed off on the deal just a few days before it was made official. Nonetheless, Solskjaer sounded delighted for Amad when he spoke to Manchester United's Scandinavia Supporter Club on Monday and he praised the progress that he's made.
"Amad is a great boy who deserves what he is experiencing now," Solskjaer said ."He always worked hard and waited for the opportunity. He has become stronger, faster and his talent was always clear.
" John Murtough was appointed as United's football director six months after a deal for Amad was agreed but it's been reported that Murtough travelled to Italy to do a lot of the leg work. Murtough departed from his role following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment into the club but was a big influence in signing Amad and that shouldn't be forgotten. United's recruitment continued to a problem during Murtough's premiership but he was always bound to get the odd deal right.
.
