Como manager Cesc Fabregas has reacted to Manchester United’s interest in flying winger Assane Diao who has shone since switching La Liga for Serie A in January.
The Flying Sengalese
Diao, 19, broke through at Spanish side Real Betis last year but sealed a move to newly promoted Como in a deal worth around €12 million in the winter window.
And his form has been superb since arriving at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia under the tutelage of Fabregas, who has led Como to an impressive 13th place in Serie A in the club’s first season in Italy’s top league.
Diao has scored six goals and provided one assist in just 13 games for Como, demonstrating a potent pairing of speed and skill, particularly in transitions.
The Sengalese international, who previously represented Spain at youth level, is a versatile attacker, capable of playing across the front line.
However, it is Diao’s work-rate which is perhaps his most stand-out quality, and likely to be the driving factor behind United’s reported interest in him given his profile lends itself favourably to a different position at Old Trafford.
A Different Role at United?
The 19-year-old ranks in the 75th percentile for tackles, 85th for clearances and 93rd for successful aerial duels amongst wingers across Europe. Furthermore, despite his young age, Diao stands almost 6’1 with an athletic and explosive build, retaining the speed of a traditional winger.
Head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system is heavily reliant upon the width and attacking thrust of the team to come from the wing-back positions, often favouring wingers in this role over traditional fullbacks – as demonstrated by his use of Geovany Quenda at Sporting CP.
As such, the Portuguese coach has found the best balance with his new team since arriving from Lisbon in November by playing Amad – typically a right-winger, ala Quenda – at right wing-back.
However, the Red Devils’ dismal attacking unit – comprised of Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho – have struggled for goals and creativity while Amad has been ruled out with injury.
If the 22-year-old Ivorian international was reinstated to the front three by Amorim, while an explosive, hard-working winger was stationed at right wing-back behind him, such as Diao, the team’s attacking threat would be improved.
From this perspective, United’s admiration of Diao makes sense and the 19-year-old ticks the boxes of young, talented and cost-effective which INEOS have sought to govern the club’s approach in the transfer market.
But Como’s manager, Fabregas, has revealed it is “not a given” Diao will leave Italy anytime soon, despite the winger’s impressive form. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s fixture against Torino, the Spaniard expanded upon Como’s approach in the transfer market, including Diao.
“We are trying to go for young, talented players who were not playing: they do well here and obviously their value increases. There is no mentality of speculating and selling, they come here to grow and improve the team.
“Then obviously, Manchester can come and ask for Diao by offering 40 million, but it is not a given that he will leave . The objective is to create a path, with players who are functional to the characteristics, working with them. Obviously the value increases, but the important thing is that they are the right players for us.”
A €40 million price tag is unlikely to have been the bargain deal Old Trafford officials had in mind when targeting Diao but Fabregas will be acutely aware of the need for his club to drive a hard bargain over their talented youngsters.
If Amorim decides a young exciting option at right wing-back from Serie A is necessary this summer, as he did over the winter window at left wing-back with Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu, expect United to follow through on this interest.
Feature image Marco Luzzani via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
