Amad makes Man Utd transfer stance crystal clear in leaked social media exchange
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo appears to have quashed rumours of a loan move to Championship side Middlesbrough.
Amad has attracted plenty of interest this month and reports had claimed that Middlesbrough, who are managed by former United midfielder Michael Carrick, had made an attempt to sign him on loan.
However, the 21-year-old apparently has no interest in joining Boro due to their rivalry with Sunderland, who he spent last season on loan with. Amad sent a direct message to a Sunderland fan page on social media claiming the only Championship team he would be willing to join this month is the Black Cats.
"Hi mate it's AMAD," the leaked message read. "The rumours bind on a loan to Boro it's fake. If I had to come back on loan to the Championship, it would be Sunderland and not anywhere else."
The page in question also posted a video in an attempt to prove the message was in fact real, while Amad later posted an image of him celebrating a goal for Sunderland on his Instagram story.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dashThe winger enjoyed an impressive campaign at the Stadium of Light last season, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists in 42 games across all competitions as Sunderland reached the play-offs.
Amad also won the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award and Sunderland's Young Player of the Year Award. However, after returning to Old Trafford he unfortunately suffered a knee injury during pre-season which kept him out of action for several months.
Amad returned to action last month when he made an appearance off the bench in United's 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest and Sunderland's sporting director Kristjaan Speakman believes he is ready to play regularly in the Premier League.
"I'm so happy Amad sat in here at the end of the season with me and Tony [Mowbray] and had a vibrant smile on his face," Speakman told The Athletic last July. "He loved it. Naturally, that's what we want.
"Can Amad return to Sunderland? I don't think so. He should be playing in tier one, in England, La Liga, Bundesliga, wherever. That's the level of player he is. The staff here, the players and supporters have helped him get back on that journey and hopefully that will attract more players to want to come to Sunderland."