Amad Diallo during the Pre-Season Friendly fixture between Manchester United and Leeds United
Amad Diallo came close to joining Derby County
Wayne Rooney has revealed he tried to sign Manchester United starlet Amad Diallo when he was in charge of Derby County.
The ex-boss and Man Utd striker, who sat in the Pride Park hot-seat during the peak of the club’s off-field troubles, is set to play at Old Trafford in this summer’s Soccer Aid charity match.
He left the Red Devils in 2017, spent a season at Everton before going to DC United and returning to English football with the Rams in 2019. He took over caretaker charge after Phillip Cocu’s departure in November 2020 and managed to keep the side in the Championship.
He remained as boss for the ill-fated 2021/22 campaign, and battling against a points deduction the Rams tried to sign Diallo on loan in January 2022. The then 20-year-old had played only once for United that season – and the Rams were in need of attacking inspiration. Unfortunately Diallo chose Rangers instead.
Diallo has been one of the few bright points of United’s season so far and Rooney told MUTV. "I think he’s been great. I tried to sign him for Derby, when I was at Derby, on loan.
"I thought I had him, really. I think it was the next day, he went to Rangers out of the blue.
"He has been fantastic, with the goals he’s scored, [his] creativity and work-rate. He’s been a breath of fresh air and, of course, we’d like a few more players to step up.
"It's been a difficult season, there's no denying that, all season. But the new manager has come in and I really like him. The way he handles himself and speaks with the media, he's been really good.
“It's probably more about getting through this season now and, hopefully, starting to implement his style more and getting players in to move the club forward."
Amad would go on to make just four league starts for Rangers, while the Rams were unable to overcome the big points deduction and suffered relegation leading to Rooney’s departure in the summer of 2022.
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