The story of Amad Diallo’s journey to become a professional footballer is full of mystery and controversy.
From moving to Europe at a young age to allegations of being trafficked, the Manchester United youngster has been through a lot.
Below is a detailed look at Amad Diallo’s background, from his early life, his move to Europe, his family, his religion, and more.
He Was Born in Ivory Coast
Amad Diallo was born in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), West Africa, on 11 July 2002.
Diallo is an Ivorian national. He plays for the Ivory Coast national team and has been called up for the senior side several times, including at the Olympics and AFCON qualifications.
He Grew Up in a Poor Neighborhood in Abidjan
Amad Diallo has not revealed much about his childhood. However, he grew up in Adjame, an impoverished area of Abidjan where most people earn a living through hawking.
Diallo started playing football in school, where Leader Foot Academy, a local Ivorian youth club, discovered his potential. He joined the academy at around the age of nine.
However, pursuing a football career in Ivory Coast was difficult, as Leader Foot Academy lacked a grass pitch and many other basic amenities.
These hardships and his incredible football skills drove his coach to seek better opportunities for him in Europe.
He Moved to Italy at a Young Age
The Ivorian national moved to Italy at around 12 and settled in Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy. He immediately joined Boca Barco, a local amateur club.
In Italy, Diallo’s football talent was easily noticeable. This attracted the interest of several Italian clubs looking to acquire the youngster’s signature.
He had trials with several Italian Serie A clubs, such as Juventus, Roma, and Sassuolo. Other Italian clubs, such as Reggiana (Serie B) and AS Lucchese (Serie C), also expressed interest.
In the end, the youngster signed with Serie A’s Atalanta after impressing the club’s then-youth coordinator, Maurizio Costanzi.
Diallo joined Atalanta’s youth system, where he quickly established himself as one of the best youth players.
In 2019, he made his professional debut for the Atalanta senior team at 17. He came off the bench as a substitute in a match against Udinese and scored his first professional goal, sealing a 7-1 victory for Atalanta.
He Was Signed for £37 million
After a brief stint with Atalanta, Diallo was signed by the English Premier League club Manchester United.
The EPL side reportedly signed him on a €21 million transfer fee, with several add-ons bringing the deal’s total value to £37 million ($48 million).
However, Diallo has struggled to make headway at Man United, only making 16 appearances for the club and scoring two goals.
He has also endured loan spells with Rangers (Scotland) and Sunderland (English Championship).
He Was the Center of Football Trafficking Allegations in 2020
When Amad Diallo moved to Italy, he was in the company of Hamed Mamadou Traore and Marina Edwige, who claimed to be his parents.
They were also accompanied by Hamed Traore Junior (currently on loan with Napoli), supposedly Diallo’s older brother.
However, in 2021, Diallo and Traore Junior were at the centre of a football trafficking investigation by Italian prosecutors.
The authorities claim that they were smuggled into the country illegally, with their fake parents using fake documentation to enter the country.
During the investigation, a DNA test was conducted, which revealed that Hamed Mamadou Traore and Marina Edwige were not the footballer’s parents. Diallo also admitted this to the authorities.
He Was Fined for Using False Documents
The Italian authorities contended that Amad Diallo and Traore Junior’s case “wasn’t exactly human trafficking” since the players knew what was going on.
However, the Italian FA fined both players £42,000 for using false documents.
During the investigation, the Italian authorities also alleged that Diallo’s name (Amad Diallo Traore) was not his real name.
After the scandal, the Man United forward dropped the name Traore and now goes by Amad on his jersey.
Diallo has not revealed who his biological parents are and has not commented on the investigation.
However, the Ivorian national revealed that he was in contact with his mother, and she had cried after he scored his first goal at United.
He was Adopted by Hamed Mamadou Traore
Hamed Mamadou Traore, the man accused of trafficking Diallo and Traore Junior, spoke with The Athletic to give his side of the story.
He claimed to be the players’ uncle and had adopted them before leaving Ivory Coast, making him their guardian.
Mamadou Traore was also the owner of Leader Foot Academy, the local Ivorian club the youngsters had played for. He was also the coach who spotted Diallo’s talent and recruited him.
As for the trafficking allegations, he defended himself, claiming he took them to Europe for a better future.
He further stated that both players had received a good education and living conditions, something Italian prosecutors seemingly agreed with.
He is a Muslim
In an interview posted on United’s website, Amad Diallo revealed that he is a Muslim and very religious. The Manchester United star stated:
“I pray a lot and I do everything that I am asked to do as a Muslim.”
Diallo also revealed that religion was pivotal in his life as a footballer. He stated:
“Before going on to the pitch, I say my Bismillah and I do the same when I leave the pitch to always thank God.”
