“Wayne Rooney was the exact same” - Gary Neville compares Manchester United star to ex-teammate after derby win

Gary Neville has heaped praise on Amad Diallo after Manchester United beat Manchester City on Sunday. He compared the youngster to Wayne Rooney and stated that he never stopped running.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville claimed that Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Matthijs de Ligt were brilliant, but Diallo was the only attacker who delivered the goods. He added that the youngster was playing for the badge.

Neville said:

"There were a couple of other decent performers – I thought actually Maguire, Martinez and De Ligt did quite well as a back three, they were quite solid – but there was nothing else in front of them other than Amad Diallo. I called it in the first half and he was the player we featured before the game; he's the only player who is playing with anything like the freedom and energy, enthusiasm, tenacity and belief that represents what you would expect in a Premier League footballer playing for the club. The rest of them realy are struggling confidence-wise and quality-wise. The club is struggling on and off the pitch at this moment in time. A lof of people hide behind the excuses… but he still plays football like he's a kid."

"He has never stopped thinking of football like he's playing on the street. Wayne Rooney was the exact same. They are street football players and they believe they should get it and beat men and attack men and take the ball and take risks and he did all the way through the game. He set up the penalty through hard work, pressing and closing down and then obviously the winner will live with him forever. It's a magical moment for him, it really is," he added.

Amad Diallo was the hero for Manchester United after winning the penalty for the equalizer. Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty a minute before the youngster scored the winner in the 90th minute.

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Amad Diallo hailed by Manchester United teammate after Manchester City win

Bruno Fernandes has heaped praise on Amad Diallo after the Manchester United star helped them win against Manchester City. The Red Devils captain claimed that the youngster was hungry for the win.

He said on Sky Sports:

"He showed it again. He's always happy, he's always alive, and this is why he gets the penalty, this is why he gets his goal."

Manchester United remain 13th in the league table despite the win. They are up against Bournemouth, Wolverhampton, and Newcastle United in the league next before taking on Liverpool.