Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rightfully predicted the trajectory of one “exciting” talent who is now thriving under Ruben Amorim.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is at Super Lig side Besiktas after the Manchester United legend made his long-awaited return to football management back in January.
The 52-year-old former United manager had been out of management for four years after the end of his Old Trafford spell in 2021 ahead of his appointment at Besiktas.
Solskjaer had a remarkable playing career at United and the Norwegian hoovered up the major silverware during his time under iconic former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, the former United forward failed to lift any major silverware during his reign in the Old Trafford dugout before he was sacked from his role in 2021.
Solskjaer’s departure as United boss paved the way for the arrival of Erik ten Hag as his permanent successor in 2022, following Ralf Rangnick’s brief interim spell.
READ MORE: What Amad Diallo told his Ivory Coast teammate about signing for one ‘big’ club does show Man Utd ace’s true colours
Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the head coach of Besiktas after a Turkish Super Lig match against Trabzonspor at the Tupras Stadium in Istanbul in 2025.
Photo by Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu via Getty Images
What Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said about Amad Diallo is exactly what Ruben Amorim has seen in the Man Utd winger
Besiktas manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was still in charge at Old Trafford when Manchester United landed Amad Diallo from Serie A side Atalanta in 2001.
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United paid an initial fee of £19m to sign Amad Diallo when he was only 18 years old and agreed a further £18.2m in add-ons as part of the deal to sign him.
Amad spent the early part of his United career on loan at Rangers in a forgettable spell in 2022 before enjoying a better run at Sunderland in the 2022-23 season.
The Red Devils talent has now become a key United first-team player and Solskjaer predicted that Amad would become an “important player” for the Red Devils.
“Having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game,” Solskjaer said in 2021 after United’s signing of Amad, as per BBC Sport.
“It will take time for him to adapt, but his speed, vision and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition.
“He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.”
READ MORE: What Amad Diallo did with five Man Utd players in pre-season training proves his role under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim is now unlocking Amad Diallo’s true potential at Man Utd after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s huge endorsement
United fans were left frustrated during Erik ten Hag’s reign at Old Trafford over the Dutchman’s reluctance to play Amad Diallo more during his emergence.
Amad was left chasing minutes and first-team opportunities behind the likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho out on the right wing for United.
Despite being down the pecking order under former United manager Ten Hag, Amad’s impressive form made his breakthrough into the first team inevitable.
Ten Hag’s sacking as United manager last October only ‘unlocked’ the potential of Amad after former Sporting CP head coach Ruben Amorim arrived in 2024.
Amad inked a new deal with United back in January and the former Atalanta talent has solidified himself as a key attacking option for United manager Amorim.
The 23-year-old Ivorian winger’s season was disrupted in the previous campaign due to an injury, but there is no denying Solskjaer nailed his prediction and then some.