Amad Diallo: Parma director claims Manchester United hijacked transfer for Atalanta teenager

Diallo will join United in January, as part of a deal worth up to €41m (£37.3m)

Manchester United's new signing Amad Diallo (Getty Images)

Parma’s sporting director has claimed the Serie A club had an agreement in place with Atalanta for Amad Diallo before Manchester United swept in to sign the teenage winger.

Diallo was one of four deadline day signings at Old Trafford in a deal worth up to €41m (£37.3m), though will only join in January pending completion of a medical, personal terms and a work permit.

The 18-year-old only has three senior appearances to his name but is regarded as one of the most highly-rated young players in Italy after coming through Atalanta's youth ranks.

Parma believed that they had struck a deal with Atalanta to sign Diallo on loan, following Dejan Kulusevski's successful temporary move from the Stadio di Bergamo last season.

But Alessandro Lucarelli has claimed that Atalanta then began negotiating with United, who stole a march on Parma to secure Diallo's signature.

"We worked according to the dictates of the new club, we tried to buy many young players who will be able to give us a hand," Lucarelli told Sky Sports Italia.

"We already had a proven squad, which is strengthened by many interesting young players. You must ask Atalanta about Diallo, we had the agreement and then the negotiation with Manchester United started and they sold him.

"We covered ourselves with other players and we will make up for it, but he would have been useful."

United will pay an initial €21m for Diallo, with a further €20m to be paid in add-ons. The Ivorian winger has been tracked by United since 2016 and is viewed as an exciting prospect.