Amad Diallo insider reveals Rangers loan spell 'damage'

The Manchester United winger, now at Old Trafford, endured a tough loan spell at Ibrox in 2022, and Mowbray believes the experience took a serious toll on his confidence.

Reflecting on that period, Mowbray said: “Unfortunately for Amad, he’d obviously not had a great experience at Rangers.

“I think he was damaged a little bit. He didn’t have the confidence, he wasn’t believing in himself.”

Diallo had arrived in Glasgow with high expectations after his big-money move from Atalanta, and he made an instant impression by scoring on his debut against Ross County. But that proved to be a false dawn.

He soon fell out of favour under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, with Mowbray highlighting just how intense the pressure can be at Ibrox. “That shirt weighs really heavy,” he said.

“Life would be really tough for a young player at Rangers if they’re coming second. You know, even just to go to the shops isn’t very enjoyable.”

By the time Diallo headed to Sunderland later that year, Mowbray sensed a player struggling mentally as much as on the pitch. “I felt Amad probably was questioning if he was going to make it in football,” he admitted.

But a change of environment proved transformative. Under Mowbray, Diallo flourished, scoring 14 goals as Sunderland surged into the Championship play-offs.

The former Celtic boss, who understood the unique pressures of Glasgow, said he made a point of rebuilding the youngster’s belief.

“I had an affinity with him and could put my arm around him,” he said.

“He came to Sunderland, where I’d like to think he was given the licence to show everybody how talented he was.”