Amad Diallo hints he wants to stay at Man United 'all my life' as the starlet  insists he is ready to fight for a place in Erik ten Hag's first-team plans

Amad Diallo says he would like to stay at Manchester United 'for life' following talks with manager Erik ten Hag this summer.

The Ivory Coast winger only made 12 appearances for United last season after back-to-back loan spells at Sunderland and Rangers.

But Diallo enjoyed a strong end to the season after scoring a sensational injury-time winner against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and is determined to stake his claim for a regular first-team place after speaking to Ten Hag.

The United boss said that 'it has to be Amad's year' after the 22-year-old played a starring role in United's win over Rangers in Edinburgh, and then started him against Arsenal at the SoFi Stadium in LA at the weekend.

Speaking before United's second tour game against Real Betis in San Diego in the early hours of Thursday morning, Diallo believes he could have a long-term future at Old Trafford.

'Yeah, why not?,' he said. 'I'm very happy here. I think everyone is happy with me because I smile with everyone, and have good energy. Why not stay here all my life?

'I am so excited. I believe in the manager. I know last season I didn't play a lot, but this season is going to be a good season for everyone.

'We had a conversation, a positive conversation, and he said to me good things. The manager, everyone thinks is a good guy. I speak with him sometimes and he gives me a lot of confidence.'

Diallo's US tour turned sour last summer when he was injured in the opening game against Arsenal in New Jersey and had knee surgery that kept him out until December. 

But now he is ready to compete with Antony and Jadon Sancho for a place on the right flank.

'I think everyone wants to play, that's why in training you need to give everything to fight and start in the XI,' he added. 

'We have a good team, good players, so the manager makes the final decision on the pitch and the bench. You need to be ready.

'It was not easy for me to get an injury in pre-season last season. I was out a long time but the most important thing was to come back stronger, to help the team. In the end, I was happy with my contribution. I forgot the past and now I'm thinking about the present.'

The highlight was that dramatic winner against Liverpool as United went on to lift the FA Cup. Diallo was asked if he has watched it back a lot.

'Yeah, so many times,' he replied. 'That goal was the most important goal of my life. I was very happy to score that goal. Even now, I can't believe it.

'I was confident and at the end the manager started to believe in me and play me a lot.'

Diallo, who joined United for Atalanta in 2021 in a deal worth up to £37.2million, has become close friends with United's other young players Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, and believes they can form the core of United's team for years to come.

'I hope so,' he said. 'The manager believes in me, he believes in the players. He brought Garnacho two years ago, gave him a lot of game time, Kobbie last season and this season he will bring another young academy player.

'The manager believes a lot in young players and I hope this season he will give me a lot of game time, but it's for me to prove myself in training and to start in the team.

'I think the relationship is strong because we are young players. I have a good relationship with all players, but I have a lot more relationship with them than other players.

'Rasmus is a good guy, also from Atalanta like me. Kobbie, me and Garna have the same agent. Kobbie is a beautiful guy so I'm happy to be part of that team.'