If those of a Manchester United persuasion weren’t already resigned to enduring a dismal end to the season, the news of Amad’s fitness blow last month was perhaps the final nail in the coffin for any sense of optimism.
Just a week or so on from the close of a transfer window that saw both Antony and Marcus Rashford depart, without either man being directly replaced, the news filtered through that every supporter would’ve been dreading – Amad had been struck down with injury.
In just a matter of weeks, Ruben Amorim’s attacking options had effectively been halved, with the Portuguese coach confirming at the time that the Ivorian wizard is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining an ankle issue.
The 22-year-old, it must be said, had been the bright spark in an otherwise grim beginning at Old Trafford for the ex-Sporting CP boss, having produced statement moments away at the likes of Anfield and the Etihad, while also netting a hat-trick in the comeback win over Southampton.
While the former Atalanta man’s hot streak has been cruelly cut short, he has already proven just what an asset he can be in the Amorim regime moving forward.
Not only that, however, but he may have also left Erik ten Hag looking a little red in the face…
Amad’s record under Ten Hag vs Amorim
As Ten Hag took charge of United in the summer of 2022, few would have expected a young Amad to force his way into the first-team picture, with the £19m signing coming off the back of a difficult six-month stint on loan at Rangers, in which he started just six games in all competitions.
The decision was made to allow the winger to try his hand in the Championship for the 2022/23 campaign, going on to dazzle at the Stadium of Light for Sunderland, after netting 14 times that season under Tony Mowbray.
Frustratingly for all concerned, an injury sustained during the pre-season tour in 2023 brought a halt to Amad’s first-team hopes back in Manchester, albeit with Ten Hag seemingly hesitant to deploy the diminutive speedster when he was fit and available at the turn of the year.
In all, the £120k-per-week ace ended 2023/24 with just 12 appearances to his name across all competitions, albeit while producing one of the defining moments of Ten Hag’s turbulent reign following that winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Despite then building on that brief impact by shining on the pre-season tour last summer – having also scored against Brighton in the early weeks of the campaign – it did appear that Amad never truly earned the trust of the Dutchman. Indeed, he featured for just 36 minutes across Ten Hag’s final four Premier League games in charge.
On the fringes under the former Ajax boss, the 5 foot 8 sensation has been front and centre since then, having already registered more goals and assists under Amorim than he did under Ten Hag, despite making fewer appearances.
Having seen the impact that the relentless talent has had in recent months, it does make it all the more head-scratching as to why he was never afforded a consistent chance under the previous regime.
|
Amad’s Man Utd record by coach |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Manager |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Erik ten Hag |
24 |
3 |
3 |
|
Ruben Amorim |
20 |
6 |
5 |
|
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Ruud van Nistelrooy |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Ralf Rangnick |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Michael Carrick |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
57 |
12 |
9 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
Even more puzzling is why ever found himself behind a certain Omari Forson at one stage – remember him?
The forgotten Man Utd man who was ahead of Amad
It really has been a meteoric rise for Amad considering what his status was just a matter of months ago, let alone this time last year.
As journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated back in December, the wideman should have been “suitably insulted” by the suggestion from Ten Hag that Antony was more deserving of a start than him, due to the Brazilian’s training form.
That clear pecking order also played out away to Fenerbahce, when it was Antony who was introduced late on as United chased a winner. Amad, meanwhile, was only called upon minutes later when the £86m flop was struck down by injury.
In truth, that moment epitomised the frustration surrounding Ten Hag’s handling of Amad, as did the decision to start Forson – then an academy asset at Carrington – ahead of him for the 2-1 defeat to Fulham back in February 2024.
As Luckhurst has since stated, such a move truly was “bizarre”, even if Forson had supplied a small assist to Kobbie Mainoo off the bench a few weeks earlier, during the thrilling 4-3 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
What was also puzzling about that decision was that the 20-year-old was approaching the end of his contract at Old Trafford, having since gone on to turn down a new deal and make the decision to depart for Monza on a free transfer.
The Englishman – who registered 22 goal involvements in 38 games for United’s U21 side – is an “exceptional” talent, as hailed by Statman Dave, yet his woes this season have showcased just what a mistake it was to bump him up at the expense of Amad.
As it stands, Forson – who, like Amad, typically operates on the flanks – has failed to score or assist for his new side, having been handed just seven first-team appearances for a team who are currently rock-bottom of Serie A. His former colleague, meanwhile, boasts 16 goals and assists across all fronts in 2024/25.
While the Monza man does still have time to make United rue their inability to keep hold of him, on current form, his free transfer exit does not appear too much of a blow – not least with Amad shining so brightly now that Ten Hag is out of the picture.
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