🚨 NEW: Manchester United Manager Ruben Amorim Outlines Attack Rebuild — Amad Diallo Set for Right Wing-Back Role?
In a bold and unexpected tactical shift, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly outlined plans to rebuild his attacking lineup, with one of the most intriguing details being a potential permanent role for Amad Diallo at right wing-back, according to the Daily Express. The Portuguese coach, known for his flexible systems and dynamic wing play during his time at Sporting CP, is wasting no time in stamping his identity on the squad.
With Amorim only recently appointed, this strategic move signals not only a departure from Manchester United’s more traditional systems but also a clear message: everyone will be evaluated with fresh eyes, and even the most unlikely roles may be reassigned in the name of system efficiency and modern footballing demands.
⚽ Ruben Amorim’s Tactical Philosophy
To understand why Amorim might see Amad Diallo as a right wing-back, one needs to delve into the manager’s philosophical approach to football.
At Sporting CP, Amorim almost exclusively employed a 3-4-3 system — a hybrid formation that relies heavily on mobile wing-backs who are technically sound, attack-minded, and tactically disciplined. Rather than using traditional full-backs or outright wingers, Amorim often converted forwards or midfielders into wing-backs to achieve the perfect balance between attack and defense.
This system brought him considerable success in Portugal, where he helped end Sporting’s long title drought and developed talents like Pedro Porro, Nuno Mendes, and Matheus Nunes into elite-level players. His reliance on attacking wing-backs is no fluke — it’s a trademark.
🧠Why Amad Diallo at Wing-Back?
At first glance, using Amad Diallo, a natural winger known for his trickery, quick feet, and attacking flair, as a wing-back might seem bizarre or even wasteful. But in the context of Amorim’s football, it’s a potentially transformative idea.
Amad possesses several qualities that align well with the right wing-back role in Amorim’s system:
- Close Control & Dribbling – Essential for beating pressing traps and progressing the ball up the flank.
- Explosive Acceleration – Allows him to cover ground quickly both in transition and recovery phases.
- Crossing and Final Ball – A core requirement for Amorim’s wing-backs, who often act as secondary playmakers.
- Tactical Intelligence – Amad has shown strong awareness in both attacking and defensive phases during his spells at Sunderland and in limited Premier League outings.
- Stamina and Work Rate – While still developing, Amad’s physical growth has been noted, and pre-season could be pivotal in building the fitness required for such a demanding role.
While Amad has never been deployed as a wing-back before, Amorim has form for turning unconventional players into system stars — most notably Pedro Gonçalves, a natural No. 10 converted into an elite inverted forward under Amorim’s stewardship.
🔄 The Bigger Picture: United’s Attack in Flux
Amorim’s appointment comes at a time when Manchester United’s attacking identity is fragmented, plagued by inconsistency, injuries, and an imbalanced squad. In 2024/25, United ranked among the lowest in the Premier League for shot creation from wide areas and lacked cohesion in attacking transitions.
By restructuring the attack around a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 system, Amorim can resolve several longstanding issues:
- Right-Wing Problem: United have struggled to find a consistent performer on the right wing, with Antony failing to justify his massive price tag. Amad, in a more dynamic, space-driven wing-back role, may be better suited to affect the game from deep and wide positions.
- Luke Shaw’s Injury Record: Amorim may use a similar approach on the left flank, turning someone like Alejandro Garnacho or even a new signing into a left wing-back to balance the formation.
- Utilizing Ball-Carrying Centre-Backs: The new system benefits defenders like Lisandro MartĂnez or even Diogo Dalot (who may rotate with Amad), who are comfortable on the ball and capable of launching wide attacks.
- Space for New Striker: Amorim’s system frees up central space, potentially benefitting a new striker — with names like Viktor Gyökeres or Joshua Zirkzee being linked — who would thrive in a mobile front three.
đź’¬ What This Means for Amad
For Amad Diallo, this could be a make-or-break opportunity.
After a standout loan spell at Sunderland in the Championship and moments of promise during United’s late 2023/24 campaign, Amad was tipped to compete for a first-team role under Erik ten Hag. However, injury setbacks and positional congestion limited his chances. Under Amorim, a tactical reimagining could be the key to unlocking regular minutes — not in his traditional winger role, but as a system-essential hybrid wide player.
Amad’s commitment to learning the defensive aspects of the game will be crucial. Wing-backs in Amorim’s system must defend as much as they attack — often tracking overlapping full-backs, pressing high, and covering for the right-sided centre-back. A strong pre-season will be vital in testing his adaptability and earning Amorim’s trust.
🔄 Other Changes in the Attack
Amad’s potential repositioning is part of a broader attacking rebuild that Amorim is reportedly championing:
- Rasmus Højlund’s Future remains uncertain. While Amorim is said to admire his physical profile, there are persistent rumors of a possible sale or loan exit, with United demanding €45 million for a permanent transfer.
- Marcus Rashford’s Role could shift into a central striker or left-forward position where he can operate in tandem with overlapping wing-backs — giving him more freedom to attack inside channels.
- Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood’s Futures are under review. Amorim’s strict squad discipline and emphasis on high work rate could determine their fate quickly.
- Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo may be deployed as double 8s or advanced midfielders behind the striker in a 3-4-2-1 formation, making the role of wing-backs like Amad even more essential in stretching the field and linking midfield to attack.
🧱 A Rebuild in Amorim’s Image
Manchester United have long been searching for a footballing identity. Since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club has gone through a carousel of managers, philosophies, and short-term fixes. Ruben Amorim represents the first true attempt at a sustainable, long-term vision built on modern tactics, data-driven analysis, and youth integration.
Rebuilding the attack around fluidity, positional interchange, and width through wing-backs is a strategy that modern clubs from Arsenal to Bayern Munich have embraced. If successful, Amorim’s gamble on Amad at wing-back could become a masterstroke.
🗣️ Final Thoughts
The reported plan to use Amad Diallo as a right wing-back is bold, unconventional, and perhaps even risky — but it embodies the tactical innovation Ruben Amorim is known for. As Manchester United prepare for a crucial pre-season under new management, all eyes will be on how these plans take shape on the pitch.
In a club desperate for identity, stability, and attacking flair, Amad’s transformation could be the first chapter in a thrilling new era. And if Amorim’s past at Sporting is any indication, the Premier League may soon witness a reimagined Manchester United — faster, sharper, and finally forward-thinking.
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