Despite assertions made by Fabrizio Romano, the 21-year-old ‘requested’ to join Sunderland in January.

A writer has claimed that one ‘amazing’ Sunderland fan favourite requested to join the club in January but was denied.

After a dismal first half of the season that saw Sunderland fall two points short of the playoffs, the club was connected with a number of new signings as the January transfer window opened.

The Black Cats are reportedly looking for a new striker, but also interested in left-backs and a midfielder to compete with Pierre Ekwah and Dan Neil.

Sunderland supporters hoped to sign Amad Diallo.

The ‘amazing’ Ivorian scored 14 goals on loan at Wearside last season and was linked with a return last summer before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

In January, Amad was connected with Sunderland again. According to writer Michael Graham, the 21-year-old had requested a loan return from Manchester United.

Fabrizio Romano denied Amad’s request to depart and stated that he is ‘glad’ to stay at Old Trafford for the season.

The midfielder stayed with the Red Devils, but has only played 27 minutes since the transfer market closed.

Amad has recently gained the attention of Sunderland supporters after removing all of his Manchester United-related Instagram photographs and adding ‘this well end’ to his bio.

Graham responded to the youngster’s latest social media activities, telling X that he will still’stand by’ his statements from the January window.

He said, “Amad has asked to join to #SAFC in late January. I reported it at the time, stood by it when Romano disputed it (and accused me of making it up), and I still stand by it now.”

He then added: “I don’t mind Romano doing what he does. He gains valuable knowledge from it. Could have simply done what he needed to without sending me a slew of hate and threats by claiming I ‘created’ it, though.”

Will Amad ever return to Sunderland?

Amad Diallo has always made it apparent that he adores Sunderland, so it was difficult to imagine that he didn’t want to return when he liked a fan’s X post about ‘coming home’.

However, that never happened, and it may be too much to expect him to return on loan this summer.