Amad has opened up on the five Manchester United players he feels have had a huge influence on his career at the club as he grows into a more senior role.
Despite being just 23 years old, Amad has already had a career that many footballers would dream of, although his journey has been anything but smooth.
After a rough childhood, the Ivorian found himself as one of the brightest young talents at Atalanta, leading Manchester United to come calling when he was just 18 years old, signing him for an initial £18 million fee.
He then spent around one year at the club, scoring his first goal before heading on loan to Rangers, though his subsequent loan to Sunderland during the 2022/23 campaign was what really helped him explode into English football.
After an injury during the 2023 pre-season hampered his chances of getting into Erik ten Hag’s squad initially, Rúben Amorim showed the winger vast amounts of faith, and Amad has now cemented himself as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wingers.
Amad feels six United stars have influenced him
Amad recently sat down with club media to join an episode of the Inside Carrington podcast, where the United star was asked which players he feels have had the biggest impact on his career from the current squad aside from Bruno Fernandes.
Having already waxed lyrical about the club captain, Amad went on to explain he feels Casemiro and Lisandro Martínez’s winning experience has helped a long way, while he also reserved praise for “unbelievable man” Tom Heaton.
“Apart from Bruno? I think everyone, everyone is very important for me,” Amad said. “I learn every day from experienced players like Casemiro. He went from, he was at Real Madrid, he won everything. So having players like this in the dressing room is very important.
“Having players like Lisandro who won also the World Cup. Players like Harry Maguire, even if he’s not the captain, but he’s a big leader in the dressing room.
Tom, unbelievable player, unbelievable man. He talk with everyone, he give advice to every young player.
“So having players, people like this in the dressing room is very important for young players like us to be, because they tell us to be humble. And even when we do things great, they tell us to be humble and to do things right and to go step by step.”
Heaton will be remembered as an internal legend
Heaton has only ever played three senior games for United, although his connection with the club is much stronger than that. The 39-year-old goalkeeper was a product of the club’s famed Academy and has played 301 games in the Premier League and Championship throughout his career.
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Despite not being a direct influence on the pitch, Amorim selected Heaton as part of his leadership group during the summer, and every single one of United’s players has had nothing but positive things to say about the veteran.
When Heaton leaves United, likely to retire at the close of the campaign, those inside Carrington will speak about him like a legendary figure, particularly if this crop of young players go on to lift silverware at Old Trafford.
The likes of Amad, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Shea Lacey, and plenty of others will no doubt attribute the learning stages of the early years of their careers in part to Heaton, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the goalkeeper continue to be involved with United for years to come.
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