Manchester United’s summer transfer window in 2021 was one punctuated by blockbuster, headline-making deals.
Jadon Sancho arrived for £73million, Raphael Varane signed from Real Madrid with a pedigree which came before him and Cristiano Ronaldo …well is Cristiano Ronaldo. Just over a year later - for one reason or another - each of those deals are viewed somewhat less positively than they were at time.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s least heralded decision from that summer continues to reap the rewards for the Red Devils - even after the Norwegian’s dismissal. Having spent the previous season out on loan with AC Milan, Diogo Dalot was expected to be afforded another move in search of regular minutes.
Once tipped to be the next Gary Neville, the Portuguese full-back looked to be a player failing to live up to his potential. Dalot had performed well with the Rossoneri and there was interest to take him back to the San Siro.
However, it was Borussia Dortmund who would make the most significant play for his signature, only to see their advances rebuffed by Solskjaer. The then United boss made the decision to reject approaches for the player, despite placing him behind Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the Old Trafford pecking order.
Had United managed to strike a deal for Kieran Trippier, it’s likely Dalot’s permanent exit would have been sanctioned. But after failing to secure a replacement, the 23-year-old stuck around with the Premier League giants.
Solskjaer may have blocked Dalot’s exit, but it was only his own departure which finally signalled an opportunity for the defender to flourish within the United team. Ralf Rangnick quickly determined that Dalot’s extra attacking impetus gave him the edge over Wan-Bissaka and was the undoubted starter in the final months of the season.
Erik ten Hag came to a similar conclusion, with Wan-Bissaka deemed surplus to requirements by the Dutchman. And his long and winding road to a Red Devils regular is now paying off with Dalot one of the stars of the season for a resurgent Manchester United.
With his help, Ten Hag’s charges have kept five home clean sheets on the bounce and it’s on that defensive solidity which their gradual improvement has been built upon. What was once viewed as an area to upgrade has now developed into one of their strongest, with Ten Hag effusive in his praise.
"I'm really happy with the development of Diogo," Ten Hag told Sky Sports after beating West Ham. "He's done really well.
"As you [Gary Neville] mentioned, you played in that position yourself, so you can be critical because you know how to play there, but I think his defending positions are growing from game to game. His timing, also his duels, is better from game to game.
"In possession, I think he's really good and he has the breath to go up and down [the wing]. The development is really good, but I have to mention that a club like Manchester United needs two good full-backs, because we have a lot of games to cover."
Having looked certain to leave at the end of his contract in 2023, it now appears a foregone conclusion that Dalot will be given a contract to better represent his standing within the United squad.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are both said to have the former Porto defender on their wishlist. And while offers were knocked back with depth in mind in 2021, the situation is vastly different this time around.
