His presence in the Manchester United side may still cause divisions among some sections of the Red Devils fanbase but, inside Old Trafford, there is no doubting the long-serving defender’s popularity.
And, when discussing just how far he has come in two years under Erik ten Hag, the temptation is always to cast our minds back to a Champions League clash during the dying embers of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era.
Manchester United, bailed out for the umpteenth time by Cristiano Ronaldo that night, were torn to shreds by Villarreal down the right-hand side. Diogo Dalot looked like a boy in a man’s game throughout, ripped limb from limb by the pace and trickery of Arnaut Danjuma.
At the time, it appeared that Dalot’s Man United career was only going to end in one way.
Two years on, the Portugal international is making room on his mantelpiece for both an FA Cup winners’ medal and United’s Players’ Player of the Year award. It’s been quite the turnaround.
Is Diogo Dalot a future Manchester United captain?
Jose Mourinho, when signing a teenage Dalot from FC Porto in a £19 million deal back in 2018, claimed that his compatriot had the potential to become ‘a great player for this club’ (BBC Sport).
Six years on, Mourinho’s prediction is starting to look like another pearl of footballing wisdom to add to the legendary tactician’s enviable collection.
Give Me Sport say that Dalot, now 25, is the prototype of the sort of player Ineos want to bring to Old Trafford from now on. Young, hungry, brimming with promise and relatively cheap.
United’s revamped approach is likely to revolve around cutting out the middle man; taking an educated punt on a player before he joins a club lower down the Premier League ladder and raises his value significantly.
Give Me Sport add that Dalot is also viewed internally at United as a potential club captain if current skipper Bruno Fernandes is sold in the coming months. Fernandes, despite his top priority being to stay put, wants a new contract (The Guardian).
At 29 and with so many miles on the clock, Ineos may consider cashing in however if they receive an offer too good to turn down.
Bruno Fernandes’ future uncertain at Old Trafford
With United expected to move on from some of their most experienced players – Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial have gone already, with Casemiro and Christian Eriksen expected to follow – Dalot will be one of the old heads in a more youthful dressing room next season.
“It is about making overloads in midfield and, from there on, he is a very good runner in behind,” Ten Hag says of Dalot, the full-back’s versatility and tactical intelligence making him one of the most important cogs in the Dutchman’s machine.
“He can do it from left and right full-back. He can attack from there but also in the centre areas and on wide areas, by bringing crosses in. He is a player who has developed as a full-back. And not as just as a full-back, but also as an inverted one too.
“I think his development has been very good this season. We are very pleased with him.”