Manchester United reportedly have no intentions of selling full-back Diogo Dalot, who is a summer transfer target for Barcelona and PSG.
As per a report from ESPN, Manchester United are intent on holding onto young defender Diogo Dalot, amid interest from La Liga champions Barcelona and Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Dalot joined Manchester United in the summer of 2018 from Portuguese outfit FC Porto in a deal worth £19 million. Arriving as a highly-rated youngster, then-manager Jose Mourinho tipped him to be the club’s right-back for years to come. However, injury problems haven’t allowed the Portuguese to flourish at Old Trafford.
In addition, the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace last summer has further hurt his chances. The Englishman has become the undisputed first-choice at right-back this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
As a result, Dalot has made just ten appearances across all competitions, contributing with a solitary goal. In total, the 21-year-old has featured just 33 times in almost two years since joining the 20-time English champions.
Dalot’s situation has alerted La Liga champions Barcelona, who are on the lookout for a new right-back. The Catalans have struggled in that position since Dani Alves left the club. Nelson Semedo hasn’t been able to convince completely, while Sergi Roberto has been a hit and a miss in what is essentially a makeshift position for him.
Furthermore, reports in Spain have claimed that the Blaugrana are now actively looking to offload Semedo, after talks over a new contract broke down. Interestingly, Manchester United have been mentioned as one of the clubs interested in securing his signing.
And should Semedo’s exit materialize, Barcelona are eyeing a move for Dalot. However, their ambitions of signing the 21-year-old seem to have taken a hit as Manchester United have no intention of selling the Portuguese. It makes sense from the club’s point of view, given that Dalot is brimming with potential.
While he may not have been able to make immediate impact due to injuries and Wan-Bissaka’s arrival, he should get plenty of opportunities to prove himself once the Premier League resumes. With games likely to come thick and fast, Solskjaer will be forced to rotate his troops to keep the squad fresh and injury-free. With Dalot being fit now, he should see an increased game-time.
The Portuguese still has three years left on his current contract with Manchester United. With the Red Devils’ taking a stance on his future at the club, Barcelona may have to look elsewhere to strengthen the right-side of their defence. Although, they might not have to look far, as their own player, Emerson, has impressed heavily on loan at Real Betis.
