“Almost sold him for a chicken change last summer and now he’s the best player in the team now…I have ordered the club to extend his contract as as possible”: Man United’s coach Ruben Amorim has personally requested contract extension for ONE United’s player who was so closed to leave last summer

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is desperate to hold talks with young star Amad as the club risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.

Amad, 22, is close to entering the final sixth months of his contract and although United can trigger his one-year extension clause, they must inform the player of their decision before January. If not, the Ivorian will be allowed to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club.

Having appeared in each of Amorim’s three games in charge, Amad has earned praise from his new boss both publicly and privately. The Red Devils don’t want to lose the 22-year-old, who’s impressed as a wing-back in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, and the Telegraph report that his future will be high on the agenda at Old Trafford over the next few weeks.

Amad joined United from Italian side Atalanta for £37million during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign and remains on the same terms which he signed back in 2020. The Ivory Coast international made a slow start to his Red Devils career but loan spells with Rangers and more prominently Sunderland saw him become a first-team regular under Erik ten Hag last season.

Many United supporters feel that he should’ve been given more minutes by Ten Hag and following his sacking, Amad’s form has hit a purple patch. In the last seven games under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and now Amorim, he’s scored two goals and assisted four.

“He was really good again,” Amorim hailed after Amad’s two assists during Sunday’s 4-0 win against Everton. “He’s in a great moment, but that moment starts with the group. So, I just take advantage of Ruud’s work with Amad.

“Amad was really good defensively and really good attacking and he has to continue to play like that. You could feel at the end of the game that he was really, really tired, so we also have to manage that as he increases the physical abilities.

Amad also received praise from Amorim following his first start at wing-back away to Ipswich Town. “I think he was very good,” the Red Devils boss said post-match. “Since these three days, he improved so much defensively.

“The opponent that he had all the team was the left-back, so it’s like a winger that follows the left-back. It’s so much easier I think, because he doesn’t have to think, can I jump on the centre-back or no? You just follow one guy, and go forward with the same guy, it’s man-to-man in that area. He was so focused on everything. I think he did a great job.”