The Manchester United right back, who spent the last season on loan at Italian giants AC Milan, has been an understudy to Aaron Wan-Bissaka so far at Old Trafford this campaign.
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Manchester United currently have good strength in depth across several areas of the pitch. One of those positions is the right back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s preferred choice in that position. However, Diogo Dalot is another who can provide the English fullback a tough fight throughout the season for a starting spot. The Portuguese right back will be eager to use the experience garnered from his season-long loan with AC Milan in 2020-21 to help the Red Devils this time around. The 22-year-old made his first United start since returning from his Serie A spell, in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat against West Ham United. It came off the back of two substitute appearances – against Wolves and Young Boys.
In an interview that was first seen in the midweek edition of United Review, Diogo Dalot said, “I feel very, very good and with lots of energy. I’m excited to start playing and I’m ready to help the team. That’s why I’m here and that’s my job, to be prepared to play. I’m fighting for that and that’s why I stayed, to be ready to play and help the team.”
Speaking about his year on loan at AC Milan last season, Dalot elaborated, “I think it was very important in terms of confidence and game time. I was the only player who was available for every game through the season and that’s an extra thing for me which I didn’t have in the two seasons before that. I feel very energetic, fit and more mature – that’s the big point for me and I’m ready to show everyone what I can do.”
“You learn a little bit of everything, not just because it’s a different culture and a different league and different people – there are always learning points, not just football-wise but outside football too. But on the football side, I’ve experienced very different ways of playing in the Premier League and in Italy – it’s a different style of playing and I adapted to that. I think I’ve learnt a lot of things that can help me succeed this year.”
In the summer transfer window, Manchester United remarkably signed his fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo. “It’s fantastic not just for me to have Cristiano here, but for everyone. He gives so much energy to everyone and he’s been fantastic. I texted him and congratulated him about coming back as soon as it was confirmed. He said how happy he was to be part of this club again. He wants to help the team and that’s what we want, and he’s been doing that already. I think fans can expect the same Cristiano as always. To be here winning what he has won and playing like he is playing, you can expect the best. We are here to help him, and he is here to help us as well, and I think everything combined we can do great things,” Dalot said.
“I think it’s the way he conducts himself and prepares himself for the games. Obviously, now watching that closely, it’s another level and it’s special to combine the way you saw him before [he came back] and now you can see him behind the scenes as well and combine everything. It’s amazing to have that energy and that mentality also in the dressing room. I think he brings everybody up and I think that’s so positive for us.”
