Manchester United: Was signing Diogo Dalot a mistake?
By Ali Akbar
Diogo Dalot got very little game time at Manchester United last season and will get even less with the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Was signing him a mistake?
Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho proclaimed Diogo Dalot to be the best young right-back in the world when he signed him for £19million from Porto last summer.
The then 19-year-old had only made eight first-team appearances for the Portuguese side, making this a bold claim by Mourinho – especially when rivals Liverpool have Trent Alexander-Arnold firing the way he is.
Dalot made just 23 appearances for the Red Devils last season in all competitions, as Ashley Young was Mourinho’s, and later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s, preferred choice at right-back.
Although not terrible, the youngster hardly impressed in the few opportunities he was handed here and there, as he lacked confidence on the ball and struggled defensively.
United fans weren’t panicking though, as Dalot was still a youngster and would naturally improve and transition into becoming a first-team regular as time went on.
However, fast-forward to this summer’s transfer window and Mourinho’s successor has already signed another right-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, for a whopping £50million from Crystal Palace.
The England international was one of the best right-backs in the Premier League last season and will likely become a first-team regular from the get-go at United.
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Does this mean that signing Dalot last season was a mistake by the club? Spending almost £20million on a player who will likely never be a regular starter makes this seem so.
However, if Solskjaer offloads Young and Matteo Darmian this summer, then maybe the club won’t regret signing Dalot after all.
The 20-year-old would be a great back-up option for Wan-Bissaka and will have a few opportunities to start in cup competitions, such as the UEFA Europa League.
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Furthermore, given the fact that both of them are so young, United may not have to buy another right-back for years to come – so long as they keep the two, of course.