Manchester United youngster Amad has sent a message to Sunderland fans asking them to change a song which is considered to contain a racial stereotype.
The 20-year-old has spent the season on loan at the Stadium of Light after a spell with Rangers last season. He has impressed in the Championship and was on target for the Black Cats in their victory over Millwall on Saturday.
Supporters have warmed to the youngster, whose goal against the London side was his fourth of the season. However, ahead of the game, he sent a message over a particular chant while showing his appreciation.
"Sunderland fans, I've had an amazing time so far and I love your energy," the Ivorian international said in a video message. "And hearing you sing my name is incredible, but we need to be respectful.
"Let's change the song, keep the noise and move forward together. Ha'way the Lads," he added. The message was shared from the official Sunderland Twitter account and a number of fans gave their feedback in the comments,
"Hattrick from Amad incoming," one United fan said of the loanee after watching the message on Twitter. While that prediction didn't come true, the winger did open the scoring from close range before Alex Pritchard added a quick-fire second for Tony Mowbray's team, and Ellis Simms made it three late on.
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Amad joined United from Atalanta in 2021 for an initial £19m, with the fee potentially rising as high as £37m with add-ons. He scored his first goal for the club in a Europa League game against AC Milan, but has been sent out on loan as competition for places at Old Trafford is fierce.
"We can see on the training pitch that he (Amad) has got amazing talent," Mowbray said in November. "You can see why Manchester United might have paid an incredible amount of money for him, because the ball sticks to his foot and he's fast and he knows where the net is – he’s got a wand of a left foot.
"Knowing his personality, it’s good that he’s under the Premier League radar – under the Manchester United world support radar. But he’s still at Sunderland where there are 40,000 at home games demanding that he runs and fights and chases and wins headers, and he has scored a couple of goals in the last three games."
Amad scored his first Sunderland goal in a defeat by Burnley in October, before adding further goals against Huddersfield and Birmingham. His effort against Millwall was one of the easiest he will score, tapping in at the back post after Simms had helped the ball in his direction.
