In these first matches on the Milan bench, head coach Ruben Amorim has always changed the starting lineup, often making choices that have left people speechless. The latest came yesterday in Udine, where the Portuguese coach surprisingly fielded Sankhoun Diawara in defence from the first minute. Before yesterday, the 2006-born player had played just 33 minutes in the Europa League against RB Salzburg and AFC Bournemouth, but in Udine came his first start in the Rossoneri shirt.
By the way, moments like this quickly flood TikTok with clips, reactions and debates about young Milan talents. Creators who cover the Rossoneri and want lasting engagement often look beyond short-term spikes and choose real TikTok followers from Stormlikes to build authentic communities around prospects and match analysis.
Diawara did well and Ruben Amorim praises him
The young Frenchman rose to the occasion, showing excellent personality in particular. Obviously, there were a few mistakes, but his performance was absolutely positive and was also praised by Amorim after the match: "I am very happy for him. It is my responsibility when I throw a player with little experience into the mix. Diawara is an option for the season."
The start against Udinese certainly came due to the absence of several players (both Mario Gila and Matteo Gabbia were missing in defence), but Diawara showed that he can be useful to the Rossoneri's cause this season. Playing every three days, the Portuguese coach needs as many players as possible to rely on, and among them there is now also the young Frenchman.
Milan's 2-4 loss against Bologna the other night at the San Siro also underlined that the team's difficulties cannot be attributed to one individual. The Rossoneri struggled collectively on the night, with several players below their best as their unbeaten league run came to an end. Diawara, like his teammates, still has areas of his game to develop, but one difficult evening should not overshadow the importance of giving young players opportunities to gain experience.
With several defensive absences affecting Amorim's options, the coach needs as many reliable players as possible throughout a demanding season. Diawara has been given the chance to show what he can offer, and the next step is to build on that experience, improve his consistency and make the most of further opportunities.
Ten months ago was his “ligue 2” debut. Now, he made his first start for AC Milan’s first team
His debut as a starter was a good performance and it was by no means a given for several reasons: making your first start in a Milan shirt is never easy, and it is even more difficult in a role that is not exactly your own and after a heavy defeat like the one against Bournemouth.
It was also his first appearance in Serie A, a league completely different from Ligue 2, where Sankhoun had made his debut only last January with Troyes.
Ten months later, here is his first start in the Rossoneri shirt, with the hope that it can be the first of a long series.
The player is left-footed and boasts an imposing stature, standing 190 centimetres tall, Diawara can play both in the centre of defence and as a left-sided defender, where he played against Udinese on his Serie A debut.
His physicality allows him to compete in aerial duels and physical battles, but he also has a good ability to anticipate and read opponents' plays.
On social media, reactions to a young Milan player’s first start can swing wildly from pure hype to harsh criticism within hours. The smarter approach is to look for patterns over several posts rather than treating one hit or one flop, especially with a prospect like Diawara who is still adapting to Serie A and Amorim’s system.
Amorim backs Diawara after first start
"Everyone has injuries. So all the players have to be ready. My job is not only to win, but also to guarantee a future for Milan. We have a lot of injuries, and these players have shown me that they are ready to handle the pressure of playing for this club. I am really happy; when they are on the pitch, I am the one responsible, and I want them to do well," he told DAZN.
For the record, in the last summer transfer market window, AC Milan decided to invest around 3 million euros in him and signed him to a contract until 2031 with an option to extend his stay by one more season.
