1
If there was one factor to sit up for throughout the darkest moments of the Ruben Amorim period, when tuning in to Manchester United was extra of a chore than ever, it was watching Amad play.
The slight Ivorian, repurposed as a wing-back by the Portuguese coach, was an effervescent presence on the fitting flank and one of many few gamers able to sending a frisson of pleasure via a quickly numbing fanbase.
Rose to the problem
His shine was not dulled by his newfound defensive duties, which he carried out doggedly if not dominantly, whereas going ahead he established himself as one among United’s most potent attacking threats. Solely Bruno Fernandes ended final season with higher figures than Amad, who scored 11 objectives and laid on ten assists.
Contemplating solely a kind of objectives got here below Erik ten Hag, it’s truthful to say that Amad rose above the overall Amorim-induced malaise – an achievement in itself, and proof of a psychological power to be remoulded from an out-and-out attacker to fill probably the most essential and disciplined roles within the squad.
It’s secure to say that Amad was ticking a number of bins – a success with the supervisor, a success with the followers, nonetheless younger sufficient to have nearly limitless potential and apparently dedicated to the membership with none off-field histrionics.
Actuality bites
Quick ahead to February 2026 and the image is comparable, however subtly totally different. Amad nonetheless is all of these issues, but it surely seems he’s additionally human like the remainder of us.
The 23-year-old has been an nearly ever-present below Michael Carrick, there throughout the giddy heights of 4 wins in a row and nonetheless there when the going bought powerful in opposition to West Ham and Everton.
The entrance three through which he stars alongside Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo has collectively began to flag, with United’s most potent attacking transfer bringing Benjamin Sesko off the bench.
At Everton, it was Amad who made means for the eventual matchwinner, and regardless of underwhelming performances throughout the ahead line that was the fitting transfer to make.
No must panic
Cunha was the opposite apparent candidate to get replaced, and the polarizing Brazilian has are available in for his justifiable share of flak in latest weeks. He continuously flirts with pantomime villainy in a means Amad doesn’t, so it’s unsurprising that he takes extra criticism. However it’s truthful and affordable to look at that the younger Ivorian has additionally been off his sport, that his passes aren’t discovering their man and his dribbles are being simply shut down.
Luckily, Amad’s United profession is marked by adversities noticed and overcome. From nearly departing below early Ten Hag to spearheading Amorim’s tactical revolution he’s no stranger to reinvention and resilience.
United is a membership which loves a celebrity, and Amad is actually within the working to be the subsequent poster-boy Pink Satan. That is his first main dip in type since hitting these ranges and eyeballs will quickly pivot to his return to this point this season of two objectives and three assists.
However he’s now a part of a functioning, cohesive attacking unit with much less burden to shoulder alone that means he can nonetheless be a key participant with out racking up numbers. And being a part of that unit additionally means being open to the identical criticism as its different members – we will nonetheless adore and imagine in Amad whereas noting that he’s been below-par.
featured picture Carl Recine by way of Getty Photographs
The Peoples Particular person has been one of many world’s main Man United information websites for over a decade. Observe us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
