Diogo Dalot’s Manchester United future remains uncertain, amid reports that agent Jorge Mendes is trying to engineer his exit.
The 23-year-old has gone from a peripheral figure under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to near ever-present with Ralf Rangnick and now Erik ten Hag. Signed when Mourinho was in the Old Trafford dugout, Dalot failed to ever make the grade under his successor with Solskjaer advocating for the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
In fact, the Portuguese was close to sealing a permanent exit at the start of last season, only for the ex-Red Devils boss to block the transfer at the 11th hour. Nevertheless, he remained a reserve until Solskjaer’s own departure saw a transformation of his fortunes.
Dalot has now emphatically usurped Wan-Bissaka, with his extra attacking quality giving him the edge over the £50million signing. In Ten Hag’s first season, Dalot has emerged as one of the central figures of a United team continuing to impress under their new manager.
However, his long-term status remains in doubt with his current contract expiring next summer - although United do have the option to extend that for a further 12 months. Dalot has been coy over the potential of an extension, but reports in Spain suggest super-agent Mendes is making plans behind the scenes.
Mundo Deportivo via Sport Witness claim that Mendes has 'personally endorsed’ the idea of Dalot joining Barcelona next year, having already offered his client to the LaLiga giants. Mendes is hoping to use his ‘exquisite relationship’ with the Blaugrana to help facilitate a transfer to the Camp Nou.
Dalot recently admitted that a new contract wasn’t even on his mind at the moment, with United in the middle of a hectic fixture schedule and the World Cup less than a month away.
He told Sky Sports: "I mean, I just think this is not worth thinking about too much at this time. We are in the process of where we think we have to improve our game as a team and focus on the club.
"Individuals will have to come [secondary] at this time and there is also a World Cup coming. I don't think that it is the time to think about this [new contract].
"I'm just happy that I'm helping this club. I love to play for this club, and I think that I show that every single time I step onto Old Trafford and every time I wear this badge. This is the most important for me [right now]."
Ten Hag recently revealed that decisions over new contracts had yet to be reached, but his comments on Dalot paint a picture of a manager very happy with his player.
Speaking with Gary Neville following the win over West Ham at the weekend, he explained exactly what has seen Dalot kick on in recent weeks. "I'm really happy with the development of Diogo. He's done really well,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports.
"As you [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."
