Gary Neville has heaped praise on Manchester United’s Amad Diallo after his heroic display in the dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester City, comparing his fearless approach to club legend Wayne Rooney.
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United, struggling for form under Ruben Amorim, looked set for another defeat as Josko Gvardiol’s header gave City the lead before halftime.
However, Diallo turned the game on its head late in the second half. The Ivorian first won a penalty—converted by Bruno Fernandes in the 88th minute—before scoring the winner two minutes later, showing composure to round Ederson and slot the ball into the far corner.
Neville, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, highlighted Diallo as United’s standout performer:
“For Manchester United, it was just one man. There were a couple of other decent performers—Maguire, Martinez, and De Ligt were solid—but nothing else in front of them except Amad Diallo.
He plays with freedom, energy, and belief, like a kid on the street. He reminds me of Wayne Rooney, who played the same way—fearless, taking risks, and attacking players.”
The former United full-back added that Diallo’s determination made the difference, saying:
“He set up the penalty through sheer hard work and pressing, and his winner was a magical moment he’ll remember forever.
Amid all the struggles on and off the pitch, Amad looked like the one player who deserved to win.”
Diallo’s performance comes at a critical time for Amorim, who dropped Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho due to concerns over their attitude and training standards.
Neville’s praise only underlines the importance of Diallo’s impact, particularly in a squad battling low confidence.
Despite the plaudits, Amorim struck a cautious note after the match, urging patience with the young winger:
“We must be very careful with Amad. Sometimes we put young players in a special place too soon. Let’s stay calm.”
United now look ahead to a crunch clash against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, where Diallo will no doubt be hoping to replicate his heroics.
