As the Rangers jury remains out on summer signing Rabbi Matondo, one reported alternative in Man United winger Amad Diallo continues to impress at Sunderland.
The Gers had Ivorian international winger Amad, 20, on a six month loan stint at the second half of last season and the club never really started to see the best of the player until the twilight of the stint.
Despite a bright start in an eventual 3-3 draw with Ross County, injury and a lack of form interrupted the kid’s start to life in Glasgow but Amad is fondly remembered for taking to the club and for some bright appearances in the latter stages of his loan spell.
Signed for a reported initial £19m from Atalanta, Man United expect big things from the player but as Rangers seen during that short spell in Glasgow, Amad Diallo is far from the finished article.
Amad Diallo impressing for Sunderland as Rangers fans look on
Despite a stuttering stint at Rangers there were plenty who’d have taken the winger back at Ibrox this season with some social media posts leading to a suggestion a deal might’ve been possible.
But as things would transpire Amad Diallo would wind up at Sunderland whilst Rangers would take the plunge on another young talent in Welsh international and Schalke winger Rabbi Matondo.
Both players have taken some time to settle into their new clubs but in the weeks leading up to the World Cup break – and in a 2-1 win over Blackburn since – Amad Diallo is beginning to bring a spark to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
The winger is turning heads for his performances at the club and has been a regular starter since mid-October, an impressive run of five goals in nine games shooting the Black Cats up the table.
But as Sunderland begin to see best of their young talent on the right, Rangers fans are yet to see Rabbi Matondo find his feet at Ibrox.
The winger criminally missed a golden opportunity to either score or square to Ryan Kent for a tap-in late-on during the 1-0 win over Ross County and whilst the knives have been sharpened, they’d have been out if the decision backfired.
That miss was touched upon by Michael Beale after the match who gave his backing to the youngster and insists Matondo has the backing and belief of all at Ibrox.
That’s even if the Rangers manager claims the player is – rather ominously – suffering from a “crisis of confidence” at the moment.
But as Rangers fans see Amad Diallo shining for Sunderland, they might be asking if Rangers made the wrong move this season with the club’s domestic downturn heaping the scrutiny on recruitment in the summer.
That’s if the Man United winger was ever a realistic option for a second loan stint.
Meanwhile, one of Amad’s former teammates might’ve played his last game for Rangers.
