Amad is quite clearly a special talent. When Manchester United agreed to deal to sign him from Atalanta in October 2020, many questioned a hefty fee that could rise to £37million.
There is obviously a long way to go when it comes to proving value for money, but the teenager gave a tantalising glimpse of the player he could become this weekend.
In order to get some much-needed game time and experience, Amad joined Rangers on loan until the end of the season and he did not disappoint when Giovanni van Bronckhorst handed him a debut on Saturday.
It didn’t take him long at all to make an impact, scoring from his first shot within five minutes. The ensuing 3-3 draw against Ross County wasn’t the result he and Rangers would’ve hoped for, but there were huge signs of encouragement for the Reds winger.
Making a direct impact by cutting inside from wide areas, Amad showed how quickly he’s able to shift the ball with tight control that seemed almost impossible for Ross County to deal with early on.
In some respects, it felt like a player making up for lost time after a thigh injury scuppered a planned temporary move to Feyenoord back in August.
If there were doubts surrounding the choice of joining Rangers and how he might adapt to the rough-and-tumble world of Scottish football, many of those were put to bed when he bounced back from a cynical Jake Vokins challenge that saw with County full-back booked.
Amad has been parachuted into a title race where champions Rangers lead a resurgent Celtic by only three points heading into Wednesday's Old Firm encounter at Parkhead.
That experience alone will give him exposure to high-pressure situations, which will be a huge bonus when he returns to Old Trafford.
Just from the one game, you could tell the Rangers squad already realise the Ivornian’s talent. He was often their main attacking out ball and, particularly in the first half, provided the majority of the away side’s penetration.
His link-up play looked second to none and it all suggests he will be a big factor in the battle for Premiership glory.
Anthony Martial is another player who has gone out on loan, joining Spanish side Sevilla as they look to pull off a shock LaLiga title triumph. Julen Lopetegui's side sit just four points shy of leaders Real Madrid.
Despite both men primarily moving for the playing time they need, there's something rather contrasting about the two loan deals - one feeling like the end of a story and the other merely the beginning.
With Martial, it's almost a case of auditioning for another club as a United future seems unlikely, whereas Amad has a potentially sparkling Old Trafford future ahead of him.
Granted it was only one game, but watching his debut made you feel Amad's move could be one of the deals of the window - both for Rangers and United.
It will be great to see Amad progress on his journey as he will attempt to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Virgil van Dijk and James Maddison by developing his career in Scotland before excelling in the Premier League.
Watch this space.
How good do you think Amad will be? Follow our United on My Mind writer Anil Kandola on Twitter to join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below
