Man United's £37m new boy Amad Diallo bids emotional farewell to Atalanta

Manchester United's new signing Amad Diallo has bid farewell to Atalanta with a touching tribute to his old club.

The 18-year-old winger completed his £37milllion switch to the Premier League giants on a four-and-a-half year deal on Thursday.

The Red Devils have paid an initial £19m but that fee could rise by a further £18m in add-ons and Diallo, who has made five first-team appearances for the Serie A first team after coming through their youth ranks, has said goodbye in an emotional social media post.

'Dear Atalanta, the moment to say goodbye has arrived,' he said in a video compilation of highlights during his time at the club on Twitter.

'It has been six extraordinary years, six years of growth, six years of challenges. But most importantly, six years of happiness and love.

'Here, I have become a man; you have given me everything I ever wanted, and I am more than proud to have played for Atalanta.

'You will forever have a special place in my heart. Wherever I go, you will always be with me for now and forever. Forza Atalanta!'

The teenager passed his medical and agreed personal terms on Thursday but actually signed for United during the last transfer window in October but remained in Italy on loan for the first half of the season.

Diallo, who scored on his Serie A debut in 2019 and is an exciting young talent, has secured a work permit and will travel to the UK once his visa is issued shortly.

The wideman becomes the first footballer to be signed and registered in the UK under the new post-Brexit rules. His Government Body Exemption – effectively a work permit – from the FA could only be processed after January 1, and the player applied for his visa in Rome earlier this week.

United expect Diallo to arrive in the next few days and have confirmed that he won't have to quarantine because he was in a secure bubble at Atalanta.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: 'As a club, we have followed Amad for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game.

'Manchester United has such a proud history of developing young players and everything is in place to enable Amad to reach his potential here.

'It will take time for him to adapt but his speed, vision and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition.

'He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.'