Amad Diallo was one of the biggest stars of the African Cup of Nations, but he has failed to bring that form back to Manchester United.
Last season, Amad Diallo enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Ruben Amorim, cementing a starting position as a right wing-back in his 3-4-3 system.
The 23-year-old is now trying to find where he fits under Michael Carrick, who has returned to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation at Old Trafford.
Amad was lighting up AFCON with three goals for Ivory Coast as they reached the quarter-finals of the competition. Back in Manchester, he has found it more difficult to find the back of the net.
Amad Diallo playing against Crystal Palace after coming off the bench
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Does Amad need to produce more for Manchester United?
The Ivorian is the clear odd one out right now.
Amad stats
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Amad Diallo is becoming a puzzle for Michael Carrick to solve
At AFCON, Amad scored three goals and made one assist in five matches. He averaged a goal contribution every 88 minutes.
In the 2025/26 Premier League season, Amad has only scored twice, with his last goal coming against Bournemouth in December while playing as a wing-back.
At United, he is averaging a goal contribution every 366 minutes of football. A big drop off from his international form.
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One of the biggest differences that is immediately obvious is that Amad was playing in a more advanced role for Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae used a 4-3-3 formation during AFCON, with Amad playing on the right side of the front three.
With fewer responsibilities to track back and defend, Amad thrived in the advanced role. He particularly had joy cutting in on his left foot while right-back Guela Doue overlapped down the flank.
Carrick tends to drop into a 4-4-2 formation without the ball, so Amad is tasked with dropping into a low block rather than staying high and being ready to pounce on the counter-attack. If he wants more productivity in front of goal, that is the blueprint to follow.
Amad is now worth ___________
Fill in the blank!
Amad transfer value
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Emerse Fae is a big admirer of Amad Diallo
Ivory Coast boss Fae has always had a lot of faith in Amad to find new levels of performance, and he was able to unlock that throughout AFCON.
As quoted by FootballToday back in February 2025, Fae tipped Amad to not only become an Ivory Coast star, but to grow into a bigger role at United.
“He has the ability, but it all comes down to his dedication and determination,” Fae said.
“He can dribble, score and offers versatility in the game, making him a valuable asset to his Premier League side and crucial to their success this season.
READ MORE: Michael Carrick faces a season-defining Amad decision to solve Man Utd’s most glaring issue
“It brings me great joy to see him in such good form right now. He’s playing exceptionally well and is in a positive mood.
“When he joins the Cote d’Ivoire national team, he must go one step further, raise his level, and continue to impress.”
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