Manchester United 2018-19 Player Reviews: Diogo Dalot

No one saw the Dalot transfer coming. United swooped for the Porto starlet ahead of many other European heavyweights and the early returns are promising. In a season marked mostly by disappointment, Dalot left fans wanting more — in a good way.

Solskjaer moved the 19-year-old around, including a surprising left-back assignment on Lionel Messi in the Champions League. That’s a baptism by fire for anyone. Most reports point to the club pursuing another right-back this summer, but Dalot deserves a bigger role next season. No surprise here if he emerges as the eventual starter.

Plus, bonus points for that speculative shot in the dying moments against Paris Saint-Germain that won United their famous penalty. The kid’s not afraid to let fly on the biggest stage. KC

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Diogo Dalot is young, and it showed in the 2018/19 season. Despite having Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia to compete with, Dalot largely remained a second choice player in the squad, particularly under Mourinho. His energy and pace made him useful going forward on the right, a wing position of weakness in the United squad, but his defensive abilities are still lacking.

One game that stands out is the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League. It was a game that was frustrating for many reasons, but one in particular was seeing Dalot constantly caught out of position, which allowed the Gunners to create a number of chances going down their left.

Another moment that stands out is his horrible miss against Barcelona in the 1st leg, coming in from the left wing to send a header will off target from just a few yards out.

Hopes are high for the Portuguese full-back, but talk of the club pursuing another young option at right back are warranted considering Dalot’s slow start at Old Trafford. Even if another doesn’t come, Dalot deserves more chances simply because of the obvious deterioration of Ashley Young. Maybe more experience is all he needs. CD