Amad Diallo stars in Manchester United’s friendly win against Rangers as Erik ten Hag reveals why the winger missed Rosenborg

Amad Diallo played in Manchester United’s win over Rangers on Saturday before it was revealed why he missed the club’s first pre-season game against Rosenborg in Trondheim earlier in the week.

Manager Erik ten Hag saw Diallo score an excellent opener in the 2-0 win at Murrayfield and then revealed the winger “wasn’t allowed in Norway” for the 1-0 defeat to Rosenborg on months.

It is understood Diallo renewed his Ivory Coast passport at the end of last season and did not arrive in time for the trip to Trondheim. However, the 22-year-old has now received his new passport and his US visa will be in place for the summer tour of America when United fly out next week.

Diallo was United’s brightest performer against the side he joined on loan for six months in 2022 and capped off a fine first-half performance when he sent Ten Hag’s side ahead in the 39th minute against Rangers.

He had an impressive end to last season too, highlighted by a memorable extra-time winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and Ten Hag have challenged the player to take it to the next level this term.

The United manager drew a distinction between Diallo and the young United side that played in the second half at Murrayfield. “We have to see Amad in a different way,” Ten Hag said. “Of course, he is still young, but he is no longer inexperienced. Last season he had bad moments with serious injuries and before that he was in the Championship and had a great season (with Sunderland).

“At the end of last season he had a great time in our first team and played some good games. Now this has to be the year. It’s great that it started this way. On Monday he couldn’t play, he wasn’t allowed to go to Norway, but today he was able to play and he played a very good game’

Ten Hag was pleased with his players’ response to the defeat in Trondheim, which sends them into the tournament on a high. “Pre-season, I want to win every game, so on Monday I was very disappointed, especially with the performance. Performance is even more important in pre-season – you want to grow,” he added.

“Compared to Monday’s low standards, today was much better, especially in terms of aggression. I was much more on the front foot. It was fun to watch.

“First we have to have a really good week of training, a week of hard training. There is the trip to LA which will take a day and then we have to acclimate to a new time. Then we have to continue to work on our fitness and our style of play, against Arsenal will be another step.

Ten Hag also praised the new management team at United led by sporting director Dan Ashcroft after Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee were both signed so early in the transfer window. Yoro made an assured debut against Rangers just three days after his £59million move from Lille.

“It’s really good that we’re there and on the front foot,” Ten Hag said. “We’re very proactive, so management is doing a great job right now. This is how we want to act. As United, we want to be very ambitious and be at the top and be ready for the season. The sooner you get the players, the more we can work in our team.