Rangers loanee Amad Diallo has finally started to hit his stride at Ibrox after a frustrating loan spell saw the Man United wonderkid struggle to force his way into the starting XI under Gio van Bronkhorst.
Recent appearances from the bench have turned around the view that he wasn’t up to scratch, with many Rangers fans feeling the Light Blues should look to extend his stay in Glasgow.
However, it seems that view isn’t held south of the border with a columnist from the Manchester Evening News suggesting that next season the £37m signing should instead head to the English Championship rather than Champions League football with Rangers.
Citing the seemingly phenomenal success the likes of Ethan Laird, Di’Shon Bernard, Tahith Chong and James Garner in the Championship this season, the MEN’s writer – unsurprisingly – can’t see past Hadrian’s Wall of the White Cliffs of Dover when it comes to challenging football.
It’s the same nonsense we see time and again and it is becoming so comical now, that I can’t be sure it’s been written as some sort of parody.
Next week’s Europa League final will be Rangers’ 19th European fixture of the season and with the Light Blues already having secured entry to the Champions League qualifiers, playing at that level regularly is surely far more challenging to the winger than Swansea or Hull City.
Amad has made it clear how much he seems to be enjoying his time in Scotland and he could still return to Old Trafford this summer with a pair of Europa League and Scottish Cup winners medals.
If he does that, then there will be guaranteed Champions League football – and a UEFA Super Cup – on the horizon as well as Rangers’ attempts to wrestle back the Scottish Premiership title.
Are we to really buy that a season on loan at Burnley or Stoke City is going to better prepare him?
New Man United boss may better appreciate value of Amad Rangers loan for Amad
Incoming United boss Erik Ten Hag will maybe have a bit more of an appreciation of how important playing for titles in a ‘smaller’ league while still having incredible pressure to win can help Amad having just ended his reign at Ajax to take charge at Old Trafford.
There are few clubs anywhere in the world that have the pressure and expectation that comes with being a Rangers player.
There are also some parallels with United’s, admittedly unsuccessful, loan move for Facundo Pellistri who joined Alaves in January 2021 on a six-month loan before opting to let him spend this season there.
While things haven’t necessarily worked there for Pellistri, it does suggest the Man United hierarchy prefer players to have some sort of stability while out on loan.