Parma supposedly had a deal in place for the 18-year-old
Manchester United’s agreement to sign Amad Traoré from Atalanta has left Parma director Alessandro Lucarelli livid, after believing he was first in the queue for the teenager’s signature.
United announced on deadline day they had agreed a deal to sign the winger from Atalanta for £19 million plus up to £8.5 million in add-ons.
“Manchester United have reached an agreement with Atalanta for the future transfer of Amad Diallo, one of the most exciting young prospects in Italian football,” the club announced.
“The 18-year-old Ivorian right-winger has been on the radar of United scouts since 2016, when he was spotted playing at Under-15 level. The club have been tracking his progress since.”
Traoré is expected to join in January, with personal terms, a work permit and a medical still needing to be worked out. But hey, they got a fee agreed, that’s more than they achieved in their pursuit of Jadon Sancho.
Meanwhile, Lucarelli is fuming to have missed out on the teenage winger.
“We worked according to the dictates of the new club, we tried to buy many young players who will be able to give us a hand,” Lucarelli told Sky Sport Italia.
“We already had a proven squad, which is strengthened by many interesting young players.
“You must ask Atalanta about Diallo. We had the agreement and then the negotiation with Manchester United started and they sold him.
“We covered ourselves with other players and we will make up for it, but he would have been useful.”
