Rio Ferdinand believes new Manchester United signing Amad Diallo could become a 'world beater' after holding conversations with those involved in signing the youngster from Atalanta.
United announced an agreement to sign the 18-year-old in the summer, adding Diallo would join the club in the January transfer window.
The winger was not a regular for Atalanta after his departure was confirmed but impressed United supporters during brief cameos prior to his switch to Old Trafford.
Diallo was officially unveiled as a United player earlier this month, being handed the No.19 shirt previously worn by Marcus Rashford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the club are still undecided whether Diallo will be thrust straight into first-team action or develop in the U23 side.
Ferdinand has backed the youngster for success and revealed what United staff told him after the deal was complete.
"We just bought a kid in from Atalanta and hopefully he does something [to boost United’s season]," Ferdinand told the FIVE YouTube channel.
"If you see his clips and speak to some of the people at the club that were involved in buying him…. potentially this kid could be an absolute world beater.
"I think that’s the thoughts of Manchester United people that they’ve unearthed…. I’m not going to give him that pressure of Cristiano Ronaldo but nobody knew about Ronaldo when we bought him really other than people in Portugal.
"This kid seems quite similar in that sense. if you see his clips and the way people talk about him then I think the world is his oyster if he applies himself right."
Diallo was tracked for some time by United and was signed as part of a new recruitment strategy focused on landing the best up and coming talent around the globe.
The Ivorian expressed his delight at sealing a dream switch to United earlier this month.
He said: "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."
