Amad has broken his silence on his close relationship with Yan Diomande amid reports of a possible opening offer from Manchester United for the young star.
Manchester United has been the third most affected club within the Premier League by AFCON, with three of the players having left for the competition in December.
One player who United have been missing on the pitch is Ivory Coast international Amad. Ivory Coast are progressing through the tournament incredibly well, and whilst the United player has managed to impress those back in Manchester, there’s another player who has caught the eye of the coaching staff at Old Trafford.
With the January transfer window in full swing and the Reds yet to make a signing, talks have emerged surrounding whether Diallo will be the only Ivory Coast star to return from the tournament to a United kit waiting for him.
Both players found themselves on the score sheet after a 3-0 victory against Burkina Faso, securing them a place in the quarter finals.
RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has attracted the interest of several European clubs this season. The 19-year-old has found himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best youngsters with his number of admirers dramatically increasing.
Will Diomande come to United?
Despite the growing interest in the youngster, RB Leipzig have reportedly said it will not engage in any business until the summer, already setting a hefty price tag of around £100 million for Diomande. At the same time, reports from Africa suggest United have tabled a £78 million offer for the winger.
United are not alone among clubs that will have to wait to make their move, with Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal also expressing interest in adding the striker to their rotation.
However, Amad has been highly vocal in his praise for his international teammate, expressing strong confidence in what the two could bring to the Premier League.
“Our game is first and foremost about fighting,” Amad said. “Everyone tries to contribute to the team, and then we have this understanding on the pitch.
“We’re also very close off the pitch, so that makes things easier on the pitch. And we’re selfless: we don’t play for ourselves, nobody tries to be man of the match.
“If I have the opportunity to pass to him, I pass to him; if he has the opportunity to pass to me, he passes to me. That’s what a great nation, a great team, is all about. You have to move forward together to win this competition.”
Amad waxes lyrical about Diomande’s talent
Amad further expanded on his argument regarding the success he feels Diomande could bring to United, stating, “It’s not enough to have one player; you need eleven on the pitch, and that’s what we’re trying to do. Yan is a very good player; everyone knows that.
“But it’s not just Yan Diomande; there’s also Bazoumana, who scored today, and Oumar Diakité. Everyone is doing their part, and for the moment, it’s working perfectly.”
Both players have shone for their international team during AFCON, the team facing Egypt in the next round, with Amad scoring in three of his four matches so far.
Ivory Coast’s quarter-final clash will not come easy, as they take on the seven-time winners, with a repeat of the 2006 decider, where the North African side won after an intense penalty shootout.
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