Diogo Dalot profile: Man United target is attacking full-back with big future ahead of him

David Cooper - Writer 01:08 31/05/2018
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  • Dalot (in orange) in action for Porto this past season.

    Jose Mourinho is set to make Porto teenager Diogo Dalot one of his first summer signings.

    According to widespread reports, the 19-year-old defender is to join Manchester United imminently as the Red Devils seek to activate his £17.4m (Dh84.9m) release clause.

    Dalot has quickly risen to become one of Portuguese football’s hottest prospects and is already an under-21 international.

    Here, we take a closer look at the Porto youth graduate, who played a part in the team’s title-winning success this past term.

    Where does he play?

    By trade, the 19-year-old is a right full-back who loves to get forward and supplement attacks with lung-busting runs down the right channel.

    Inexperienced defensively, the Braga-born man has work to do on his role in the backline but is happy to receive the ball to feet and has composure that almost belies his years.

    He has also had some experience operating in defensive midfield and right-wing midfield positions from his time in Porto’s youth set-up.

    Is he a long-term replacement for Antonio Valencia?

    The Colombian has been a star for the Old Trafford club for near-on a decade and while he has shown no obvious signs of slowing down, at 32, Valencia could help groom Dalot for the right-back berth in the coming years.

    With Matteo Darmian surplus to requirements and headed to Juventus next month, United are indeed short in that area and the youngster could well get plenty of game time next season, particularly in domestic cup competition.

    Dalot’s 2017-18 campaign

    The teenager enjoyed a steady rise under boss Sergio Conceicao this past season, playing six Primeira Liga matches at the backend of it as the Blue and Whites won their first domestic crown since 2012.

    Interestingly, Dalot started the season in the club’s B set-up before earning a call-up to the first-team ranks due to his fledging performances at reserve level and in training.

    For those not too familiar with the Portuguese top-flight, you may have recognised him from Porto’s Champions League last-16 second leg clash against Liverpool at Anfield, in which they were stuffed 5-0 by Jurgen Klopp’s men.

    And before that…

    He was part of Portugal’s under-16 side who the European Championship two years ago and triumphed in the same tournament, albeit for the under-17 side, 12 months later.

    Contract Status

    The defender’s current deal runs out at the end of next season – though the club and the player do have an option to extend that by a further two years.

    That contract, as stated, contains a release clause which the Red Devils hope to exploit once the international transfer window opens in June.

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