Patrick Roberts reflects on his partnership with Amad Diallo, admitting they weren’t the best of friends, but their on-pitch connection will be remembered fondly by Sunderland supporters.
Amad Diallo was sent on loan twice from Manchester United to help boost his development after joining the Red Devils as a young winger from Serie A side Atalanta.
In 2022, Amad spent the second half of the season at Rangers to get first-team experience, but the loan didn’t go as planned.
The Ivorian winger rebuilt his reputation as an exciting young prospect during a season-long loan at Sunderland after returning from Rangers. He is now among United’s best attacking players.
Patrick Roberts celebrates with Amad Diallo
Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Patrick Roberts reflects on Amad Diallo partnership that had Sunderland fans in awe
Amad became one of the best players in the Championship during his time at Sunderland, making 42 appearances and scoring 14 goals.
The United winger finished the season as Sunderland’s top scorer, won the Sunderland Young Player of the Year award, and was named the PFA Championship Fans’ Player of the Year.
Patrick Roberts, who currently plays for Birmingham City, has reflected on the relationship he shared with Amad on and off the pitch at Sunderland.
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Under Tony Mowbray, Roberts and Amad became Sunderland’s best two players following promotion to the Championship from League One.
They were Sunderland’s two wide options in attack. Roberts admits they weren’t the best of friends off the pitch. Still, their relationship on it felt telepathic as two wide players drifting inside, interchanging and getting the better of defences in the Championship.
“I don’t think so, no,” Roberts said when asked if he had experienced anything similar before, as quoted by the Sunderland Echo.
“Not in the way Amad has. It’s strange to explain. We weren’t the greatest of friends. Obviously, we got on, but on the pitch, he just had the same brain.
“It’s hard to explain, but when I do something, I think of what the other players should be doing. I think he was on the same wavelength.
“On the pitch, it looked quite easy, but it’s tough because you need to know what the next player is after that.
“We’d be on that same wavelength, and he’d do things that I’d expect myself to do and vice versa. That’s why it worked.
“At the same time, I’d let him do what he needed to do and maybe help out a bit more defensively. We just worked that way. If he drifted out, I’d come inside. If I was out wide, he’d be inside.
“We’d just work off each other. There wasn’t much thought. It was off the cuff. When you’re on the same wavelength, football becomes really easy. It’s a simple game, 11 v 11 on a pitch.
“If you make the right decisions, that’s the key to anything. I’ve not really had that anywhere else, but he’s a great player. You see what he’s doing now. He’s gone on to do amazing things, and I’m sure there’ll be many more like that.”
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Patrick Roberts now playing with ex-Man Utd right back Ethan Laird
Roberts is currently playing for Birmingham City in the Championship, which means he is sharing the dressing room with another player who spent time at United.
Ethan Laird joined United’s academy at the age of 10 before coming through the youth ranks.
The right-back made his senior debut for United against FC Astana in the Europa League, back in November 2019.
Laird made his first senior appearance at Old Trafford a month later, appearing as a substitute in a 4-0 win over AZ Alkmaar.
He left United in 2023 because Erik ten Hag preferred Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka as his right-back options.
That decision led to Laird signing for Birmingham City, where he was named in the 2024/25 PFA League One Team of the Year.
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