‘Really? No, you are joking!’ - Amad Diallo lifts lid on signing for Man Utd as starlet claims he watched ‘every game’ when he was in Ivory Coast

The winger moved to Old Trafford in January 2021 and it was a dream come true for the then 19-year-old. The young Ivory Coast international has admitted that he could hardly believe it when he received a call saying the Red Devils were ready to snap him up.

He told United's official website: “I remember I was at home and the director called me. He said: ‘Amad, United want to sign you’. I say: ‘Really? United? No, no, you are joking, you joke!’ So he’s like: ‘Yeah, yeah’. ‘Really, really? Okay give me the contract. I sign directly’. He said: ‘No, Amad, come on’. And I say: ‘Yes, really, it’s Manchester United. It’s my dream to play at Old Trafford. He said: Really?’ I say: ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah. Give me the contract and I sign directly. I say you are not joking with me are you, or is it true?’ He said: ‘No, it’s true’ and I was so happy. I called my mum directly and I say Manchester United want me. So I was so happy. It happened quickly.”

Amad was in awe when he arrived at Old Trafford for the first time as he had been watching United matches when he was back in his homeland, adding: "When I see Old Trafford [sighs] yeah. I remember when I was in the Ivory Coast, when I watched every game, United against [Manchester] City, United against Chelsea. I watched Old Trafford on the TV and, today, I am at Old Trafford. So I was very emotional, it was a very emotional day for me."

Now 21, the ex-Atalanta star recovered from an injury to make his first appearance of the season as Erik ten Hag's team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Wigan last week. He will hope to be involved again when they take on Wigan in the FA Cup on January 8.