New Manchester United signing Amad Diallo Traore had trials with Juventus, Roma and Sassuolo as well as Atalanta, reveals his youth academy boss.
Before joining Atalanta in 2015, the attacking winger was playing for local Reggio Emilia side Boca Barco along with his older brother, current Sassuolo midfielder Junior Hamed Traore.
New Manchester United signing Amad Diallo Traore had trials with Juventus, Roma and Sassuolo as well as Atalanta, reveals his youth academy boss.
Before joining Atalanta in 2015, the attacking winger was playing for local Reggio Emilia side Boca Barco along with his older brother, current Sassuolo midfielder Junior Hamed Traore.
“Diallo started out in our youth team, from 2014 to 2015, when he was 12 to 13 years old, and even then you could tell he had something more than the others,” President Enzo Guerri told Tuttomercatoweb.
“Atalanta certainly weren’t the only club to set their sights on him. There was a queue of scouts coming to view him from all over Italy.
“Amad had three trials in Turin with Juve, just as he was called in by Reggiana, Sassuolo, Empoli, Roma and of course Atalanta.
“I remember a Roma scout came to view him, and after five minutes when Diallo chested down the ball to continue his run, the scout turned around and left. I asked him what was going on and he replied: ‘Only potential champions do that at the age of 12. Seeing him in this game won’t help, he has to train with our kids at Roma.’
“However, from the first day, Atalanta had him training with those a year older than him. Amad was always destined for greatness.
“He had trials with everyone until he found the right club for the big step in his career. Atalanta are something of an exception in Italian football, as very few clubs here are prepared to put their faith in young players.”
Having said that, Diallo has played only two substitute appearances for Atalanta this season and is eager to start his Manchester United experience as soon as possible.
“I agree with his decision, because I think Diallo is going to Manchester to play, not to sit on the bench. It’s a big opportunity for him and he couldn’t say no.”