Ole and Eric welcome Amad Diallo's arrival

The Atalanta winger has now finalised his move to Manchester United after the deal was set up during the last transfer window, and Ivory Coast international Bailly has been in contact with his fellow countryman.

In an exclusive interview to be published in full in Saturday's United Review, the official matchday programme for our Emirates FA Cup third-round tie against Watford, the in-form defender was keen not to apply any additional pressure to the talented 18-year-old.

"I know Amad," said Eric. "I speak with him. He’s a young player with good talents but we know it is important to keep calm with any new guys. I think he will do well but it important to keep calm with him.

“I am ready to help him. I’m ready to help every player. That, for me, is very important. When I came to this team, I had players with big experience. I remember [Wayne] Rooney, Ibra [Zlatan Ibrahimovic], Antonio Valencia. Players like this helped me when I came. So when young players come, it’s very important to help these guys.”

When we asked Eric if the new boy will be glad the uncompromising defender is on his side and not playing against him, he laughed and said: "Ha, yes. He’s a top man. I speak with him and speak with the family. Now the guy is very happy to sign for Manchester United. Everybody waits for him and that’s it."

The waiting will soon be over with Diallo due to start training with his new team-mates soon, when all the necessary paperwork has been completed.

The teenager was born in Abidjan but moved to Italy as a youngster, where he impressed throughout his time with Atalanta's youth sides and during his outings with the senior side.

OLE WELCOMES AMAD

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said about his new signing: "As a club, we have followed him for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game.

“Manchester United has such a proud history of developing young players and everything is in place to enable Amad to reach his potential here.

“It will take time for him to adapt but his speed, vision and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition. He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.”

AMAD'S EXCITED

Our new arrival had this to say on the day his transfer, first announced in October, was completed:

“After waiting since the summer, it is finally a dream come true to complete my move to Manchester United. I am hugely ambitious and there is so much that I want to achieve in the game; when I spoke to the manager I knew that I had joined the perfect club.

“This is a really exciting squad with so many great players, I can promise that I will work hard every day to learn from them and give everything to develop my game. The coaches have been fantastic since I signed, we have been in touch regularly and they have already given me a lot of great advice.

“I have had time to prepare for this move, both physically and mentally, and I have worked really hard to be ready to make the step up to this amazing club.”