Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi

A Manchester United stalwart isn’t going anywhere at the moment.

Amad Diallo was a few steps away from temporarily leaving Old Trafford to play on loan for Dutch side Feyenoord.

A deal was already sealed, but an unfortunate event forced the Red Devils to keep the winger at least until the next transfer window.

According to Feyenoord's technical director Frank Arnesen, “everything was done” until Diallo sustained an injury over the weekend while in training.

This has led Feyenoord to send the youngster back to Manchester United and let him recover with his parent club.

"He got injured, it's canceled," Arnesen told Dutch outlet AD. “Too bad — everything was done. I've talked a lot with the people at Manchester United, but it's more sensible to let him recover at that club."

Arnesen didn’t divulge much about the severity of Diallo’s injury. However, he admitted that it might take “a while” before the player could get back to his old form.

"It may be a while before he comes back," he stated.

Diallo completed his move to Manchester United from Serie A side Atalanta in the January window.

Like some of his contemporaries in the club, the Ivorian too was hoping to make his mark on Manchester United’s first team in the future.

“I’m over the moon to be here,” Diallo told Manchester United’s official website in a statement. “I’m so excited to start here at Manchester United. It’s a dream come true and I can’t wait to start and play with the guys.”

“I’m here and I’m very happy to be here. I’m expecting a lot from my experience here and I’m looking forward to starting.”

Job done: Manchester United's comfortable win at Tranmere was a welcome relief for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Job done: Manchester United's comfortable win at Tranmere was a welcome relief for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Photo: AFP / Paul ELLIS

Before the loan deal, Diallo has already played a total of 11 games for the Red Devils, registering an impressive tally of five goals and four assists in the process.

Prior to his Manchester United debut, the left-footed forward has already been likened to Paris Saint-Germain star .

However, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand sees a significant resemblance between Diallo and his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

“If you see his clips and speak to people at the club who are involved in buying him, potentially this kid could be a world-beater,” Ferdinand said of Diallo earlier this year.

“That is the thought of Manchester United people, that this kid is one they have unearthed. I don’t want to put the pressure of [Cristiano] Ronaldo on him, but no one knew about Ronaldo when we bought him other than the people in Portugal. This kid seems similar in that sense and if you see his clips and the way people talk about him, the world is his oyster if he applies himself right.”