‘No-one plays like Lionel Messi!’ - Man Utd winger Amad Diallo reacts to comparisons with Inter Miami & Argentina superstar

The 21-year-old forward has been billed as the “Ivorian Messi” since bursting onto the senior scene. His technical ability has won plenty of admirers, with the fleet-footed youngster able to leave team-mates bamboozled in training.

Quick feet are very much part of his armoury – as they are for eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi – but Amad is eager to avoid being likened to one of the greatest players of all-time. Former Atalanta team-mate Papu Gomez – who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 – previously said of Amad: “He is a future star, trust me. During our training, he seems like Lionel Messi! You can't stop him.”

Amad is honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as Messi, but has told United’s official website of why such talk must not be taken too seriously: “I know they said this [that I was like Lionel Messi in training] but no-one plays like Messi. No-one plays like Messi. I am proud he [Gomez] says I play like Messi but I say no-one plays like Messi! In training, I was like the same here, with a little bit of dribbling and scoring, so they say my football is more like Messi but, today, I say no-one can play like Messi.”

Amad is looking to prove his worth at Old Trafford this season, having recovered from a serious knee injury, but could be on the move during the January transfer window as United look to find the regular game time he needs in order to fully unlock undoubted potential.