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Manchester United will begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign against Hull City on Saturday. It promises to be a crucial campaign not only for the club and manager Michael Carrick, but also for several players whose futures could be shaped by their performances. Amad Diallo is one United star who simply cannot afford another underwhelming season. There was transfer interest in the 23-year-old this summer but United considered him not for sale. He moved to Old Trafford from Atalanta in 2021 for an initial fee of £19 million. It was a big investment from the Red Devils in a talented teenager but he clearly needed time to adapt. A season-long loan spell at Sunderland proved to be the catalyst his career needed. Diallo burst into the spotlight at the Stadium of Light, scoring 14 goals and providing three assists in 39 Championship appearances. The Black Cats ultimately missed out on promotion, but Diallo’s breakthrough campaign earned him another chance to prove himself in the United first team. A meteoric rise before an even faster drop United endured a miserable 2024-25 campaign, finishing 15th in the Premier League before losing the UEFA Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. Amid the disappointment, Diallo emerged as one of the few genuine positives. The Ivory Coast international thrived in the right wing-back role under former manager Ruben Amorim, showcasing the attacking quality that had made United so excited about his potential. He finished the campaign with an impressive 11 goals and eight assists in 43 appearances across all competitions. When United entered the 2025-26 season, expectations were high for Diallo. With Alejandro Garnacho and Antony leaving the club and Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho heading out on loan, Diallo appeared to have a golden opportunity to establish himself as a key attacking player. Instead, the winger unexpectedly lost his spark and cutting edge in the final third. Carrick continued to show unwavering faith in Diallo, handing him regular starts on the right, but the winger struggled to repay that trust. He ended the campaign with just two goals and three assists, a dramatic drop from his impressive numbers in the previous season. United have already shown they are willing to move on from attackers who repeatedly fail to make the right decisions in the final third, with Antony and Garnacho ultimately paying the price. Diallo has looked lively during pre-season, but one assist in four matches is hardly enough to erase concerns about his end product. One final chance to prove his worth The former Atalanta winger has never lacked courage when facing defenders. He is willing to take on full-backs, attack the byline and beat his marker, but his final pass or shot has too often left the Old Trafford crowd frustrated. Diallo is now entering the sixth campaign of his Man United career, meaning there are few excuses left for him. He knows the club, understands the expectations and, most importantly, has a manager who continues to believe in him. This is the season for Diallo to turn his undeniable talent into a consistent end product and prove he deserves to be mentioned among the best right wingers in the English top flight. He is expected to start on the right during the opening games, with Bryan Mbeumo leading the attack in the absence of Benjamin Sesko. A fast start coupled with decisive contributions in the final third could boost his confidence while rewarding the supporters and manager who have continued to back him. If Diallo fails to take his chance again, the club may have little choice but to pull the plug and cash in on the winger while they still can. Stats from Fotmob.com