Amad Diallo has been on the radar for a few years now.
Manchester United fans have been talking about him since his transfer in 2021, speculating about his potential.
Following respective loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland, it looks like he’s finally making his mark at Manchester United and gaining an important role.
This scout report will examine some of his stats with United this season and how he fits into Ruben Amorim’s system.
With a current market value of €22m, the player has been performing well this season, even with the club’s managerial changes.
He has scored three goals and six assists in 22 games this season, over 1,225 minutes.
He has also contributed seven goals in 13 English Premier League games and two in six UEFA Europa League games.
Although Manchester United’s performances have been really poor this season, some players have been shining, and he’s certainly one of them.
Amad Diallo Radar Chart
Amad Diallo style of play excels in several key attacking metrics, such as shots per 90 and expected goal contribution per 90, ranking in the 66.8 and 55.35 percentiles, respectively.
These metrics showcase his ability to create and convert chances.
He ranks in the 94.3 percentile for opponent penalty area touches per 90 minutes, which shows his ability to get into tight spaces and his skill in tackling them.
His passing metrics have some room for improvement, but they’re quite good for someone who’s been in multiple clubs and systems and is trying to grow into one system right now.
For his progressive passing, he ranks in the 67.2 percentile and the 87.8 percentile in accurate pass percentage.
Interestingly, Diallo also shows some competence in defensive areas.
His percentile for defensive duels won is 86.4, and his aerial duel capability is remarkably high at 92.9.
These numbers suggest that he can contribute offensively and defensively and can be a useful asset when sitting further back.
Amad Diallo Shot Map 2024/25
His shot map isn’t worth overly excited about, as he has only scored three goals this season.
However, we can see that most of his shots come from the right side of the penalty box, which makes sense, given that he is a right-winger.
However, a surplus of blocked shots suggests that his shot selection could be improved.
Rather than shooting just for the sake of it, he could take better opportunities.
While he has scored three goals with roughly 2.55 expected goals xG, this indicates he is slightly overperforming his xG.
However, the fact that many of his shots have been blocked or easily deflected away shows that most of his opportunities aren’t of high quality.
Amad Diallo Shot Assist Map 2024/2025
Diallo’s assist map from the 2024/25 season highlights his creative output, particularly from the right side of the pitch.
With six assists and a total expected assists, xA of 4.14, Diallo’s ability to set up scoring opportunities for his teammates is evident.
Many arrows lead to the number 9 position, where Zirkzee or Højlund can be positioned to capitalise on them.
As the season progresses, we can expect Diallo’s very direct assist mindset to continue growing with the numbers to support it.
Fitting Into Manchester United’s Tactics
Manchester United have been playing a new system under Ruben, a 3-4-3 formation, which Amad Diallo has experience with from his time at Atalanta.
In this system, wingers carry a heavier defensive workload, a role Diallo seems well-suited for, given his strong defensive attributes.
This makes him an ideal fit for the right-winger position, an area in which United has struggled to solidify in recent years.
While the left wing has had reliable options like Rashford, Garnacho, and even Sancho in the past, the right wing has lacked consistency.
Diallo’s comfort in this tactical setup and his ability to balance defensive and offensive responsibilities could provide United with a stable solution for this position.
Amad Diallo Shot Selection
Amad Diallo is very skilled at positioning himself well in scenarios where he can get a shot off.
He uses his body positioning effectively to create clear chances.
However, his shot selection can sometimes let him down.
In the scenario above, he chose to shoot towards the red arrow, a poor choice given the two defenders blocking his path.
Instead, aiming to curl the ball into the far corner would have been a much better decision, where the white arrow leads.
Improving his shot selection could elevate his game to the next level, complementing his excellent positioning.
This is another example of poor shot selection from Amad Diallo.
While he excels at positioning himself in dangerous spaces and creating opportunities to shoot, his decision-making can let him down in these moments.
Attempting to bend the ball around them in situations with three players in close proximity is incredibly difficult, something only a player like Lionel Messi could realistically do.
Diallo has shown noticeable improvement in his shooting this season.
If he continues to refine his shot selection, particularly by choosing the right corners and angles, his goal tally will increase.
His natural ability to get into scoring positions gives him an excellent foundation to build on, and working on his finishing will make him a much more complete attacking threat.
Amad Diallo Dribbling Ability
Amad Diallo is a stop-motion dribbler, a style previously discussed in depth in our other articles.
This type of dribbler relies on analyzing the defender’s movements and adjusting their next steps accordingly, making it a strategic battle.
Diallo excels in this by his movement on the opponent’s positioning and steps, waiting for the right moment to exploit gaps or missteps.
Diallo’s quick acceleration, low centre of gravity, and agility allow him to pass his opponents quickly when there is any space behind them.
In the image above, he identifies the green space behind the defender and immediately drives into it.
He is a very direct winger who likes to take on attacking duels.
His ability to read his opponent and exploit defensive weaknesses makes him very dangerous.
Amad Diallo is not only a direct dribbler but also highly comfortable cutting inside from wide areas into the centre of the pitch to influence the game, much like players such as Eden Hazard, Lionel Messi, or Neymar.
That red circle with the red arrow is the run he took with the ball towards the position he is in, circled in white.
He is looking to run the transition for the club’s attack here.
This versatility allows him to dictate play from the wings while also stepping into midfield to take control.
He is a dynamic presence who can shift the flow of a match with the ball at his feet.
He has the ability to pick up the ball in wide areas, drive into central spaces to link up play or create chances, and then drift back into the wings to stretch the defence.
With some more years at top-flight Football, his ability to control the tempo and dictate the game on his own will improve, given he continues getting huge minutes.
Amad Diallo stands out with his ability to come short and receive the ball with his back turned to goal.
Diallo’s composure and spatial awareness allow him to use his body intelligently.
He shields the ball from opponents while assessing his next move.
He uses his body to sense the opponent’s positioning, then spins away to exploit the green space behind him.
Amad Diallo Penetrating Carries Map 2024/25
Amad Diallo’s penetrative carries map highlights his preference for entering the opponent’s penalty box from the right corner.
It showcases his effectiveness in ball progression, consistently driving forward to create chaos in the box.
Amad Diallo Chance Creation
Amad Diallo occasionally struggles with underweight passes, but his vision and intent for creation are clear.
He constantly looks to play forward, often attempting vertical passes into the opponents’ penalty box.
He remains composed in making those passes even when operating in tight spaces.
As seen in the image above, Diallo is in a congested area but sees the pass in front of him that can lay off his run in behind; even in pressure moments, he can play those passes.
The example above showcases Amad Diallo’s ability to read his teammates’ runs and deliver key forward passes.
With two potential United players making forward runs, Diallo has the awareness and technical ability to play a perfectly weighted pass to his teammate.
This highlights his potential as a creative outlet on the wing.
While Diallo works to evolve into a prolific goal scorer, his strengths suggest he’s more likely to become a playmaking winger.
His vision, passing accuracy, and ability to operate in tight spaces make him well-suited to creating chances for others.
Amad Diallo Progressive Pass Map 2024/25
Amad Diallo’s progressive pass map in the final third could be more full, but considering this is his first full season in England’s first division, it’s a promising start.
The map shows how often he attempts to feed United’s attackers, particularly targeting the big number 9s positioned at the top of the box.
Conclusion
Amad Diallo’s ability to create on the wing, drift into central areas, and act as a direct winger who wants to take on opponents in ground duels, combined with his ability to work in tight spaces, gives him a very promising future with a solid foundation.
He has had a great start to the season for Manchester United so far and can certainly excel further this season.
Slowly becoming Manchester United’s new starting right winger, he can help the club succeed in all competitions.
Although he is still only 22 years old, he remains one to watch.
Diallo is perfectly set up to succeed in this United side, working in a 3-4-3 system that benefits his defensive ability and lets him have lots of freedom on the wing when looking to help the attack.
The youngster’s prospects are up-and-coming, with a new coach willing to give him playing time.
The question is whether he will stay at United and for how long.
Kurosh Moghtader, currently based in Ontario, Canada, is a data analyst and content writer for Total Football Analysis and a student of accounting and finance at the University of Waterloo. A passionate Juventus supporter, he maintains a keen interest in Italian football.
