Amad wasted no time in showing Manchester United that he is far more valuable than just a transfer makeweight.
There aren’t too many conclusions that can be drawn from a team’s opening pre-season match, but for Amad - the impressions were all positive. Second-half goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill ensured the Red Devils got their summer work off to a win, beating Leeds United 2-0 in Oslo.
And while Mason Mount was the centre of attention, it was also Amad, who offered a tantalising glimpse into United’s future. The 21-year-old has been made to wait for his chance at Old Trafford, making just nine senior appearances in the three-and-a-half years since signing from Atalanta, in a deal which could ultimately cost the club £37million.
United have avoided the temptation to throw him in the deep end, instead developing him away from the limelight of a club firmly in transition. But after a coming-of-age season with Sunderland, the time is right for the forward to shine with his parent club.
“Can Amad return to Sunderland? I don’t think so,” Black Cats sporting director Kristjaan Speakman recently told the Athletic. “He should be playing in tier one, in England, LaLiga, Bundesliga, wherever. That’s the level of player he is.”
Erik ten Hag has promised to give the Ivorian a chance to impress, but before he had laced his boots for a pre-season fixture, rumours of his exit had begun to surface. Reports suggested that the youngster could be used in a swap deal which would see Rasmus Hojlund head the other way.
United and Ten Hag are desperate for a striker this summer, and the impressive Hojlund is on the list of targets. But with £60m spent on Mount and a big outlay on the way for Andre Onana, they will need to be creative.
That’s where Amad could come in, with the idea he would dramatically decrease Atalanta’s £52m valuation. But against Leeds, the current United player showed he was deserving of an extended chance, with an enterprising and impressive display.
Mirror Football is now on Threads! You can follow us here
Amad was a thorn in the side of Leeds during the first 45 minutes - the half which more closely resembled a competitive match. Antony is the current holder of the right-wing berth, but Amad showed he was a more than capable deputy, cutting in with the same panache as the Brazilian starter.
He was unfortunate to not find the net, but was a constant menace and Ten Hag will have almost certainly been impressed. Amad has already proven he has outgrown the Championship and has desires on taking a prominent place in United’s squad.
“My dream was to play for United. When I signed I was happy. Everyone in my family was happy. I hope maybe next season I get my chance,” he said earlier this year. "I have a lot of thoughts in my head but my ambition now is to come back to Manchester United and maybe to get my chance.”
Whilst only the first game of a long summer, at the very least Amad has shown he is far more than a negotiating tactic in the pursuit of another, largely unproven, forward player.
