The Dalot Dilemma: Why United Should Keep Their Reliable Right-Back

With interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Manchester United face a crucial decision on Diogo Dalot's future as his contract situation demands resolution.

Dalot has typically been one of our better players, rarely injured, hard-working, professional, and capable of covering at left-back when needed. I think many fans' opinion of him has been tarnished by him struggling to adapt when asked to play left wing-back over the past year or so.

However, we have seen when he has played on the right, preferably at right-back rather than right wing-back, that he is still a very good player. The fact that clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are interested in him highlights that he is very well thought of amongst the footballing elite.

The Contract Crossroads

His contract situation means we have to make a decision soon about whether we sell him and look to replace him or give him a new deal. Given his age, it will be a big deal that will keep him here properly as our starting right-back for the next three to four years at least.

I can see both sides of the argument. On one hand, it's better the devil you know. There are no guarantees that whoever we replace him with does better than him. Selling him and buying a replacement means more money and time needs to be spent doing that rather than focusing that time and money on the other key areas of the squad that need upgrading.

The Ambition Question

On the other hand, I think he's a solid six or seven out of ten player at right-back every week, and there is probably a feeling that we could replace him with a player with a higher ceiling. Do we really want to tie ourselves down to having a solid player at right-back for the next few years, or do we want to be aiming for someone better?

It's one of those situations that really could go either way, and unless everything works out perfectly, it's likely the club will be looked on as making a mistake. If they sell him to a top club like Real or Bayern and he does great there with better players around him, which is quite likely, and the club's replacement doesn't immediately hit the ground running and put in top performances every week, then most people will feel the club has made a bad call.

Likewise, if they give him a new deal and his performances stay being solid, then at least some of the fan base will be unhappy and feel the club lacked ambition choosing not to try and upgrade him.

The Leadership Factor

Personally, I'd keep him. From all the stories that come out around him, about him helping new players settle, being a model professional, and a bit of a leader in the dressing room, that for me is something we absolutely need to keep hold of.

We have lacked players with character, grit and leadership, and throwing one who does have it away for the hope that we sign someone slightly better seems silly to me. At the end of the day, he plays right-back. What do you want from your right-back? Someone solid, dependable, who won't let you down. Which sounds a lot like Dalot to me.

I also don't see a great replacement who is a sure thing to be better than him. I see young lads who could step up like Livramento or Kayode. But Livramento has had a few injury issues and Kayode is having a breakout year. Neither are guaranteed to be able to step up, and both are likely to be inconsistent for a year or two as they continue to develop, while they will also both be very expensive.

Personally, I just don't see the risk of selling Dalot for around £30 million, then having to chuck an extra £20 million on top to buy a younger replacement who isn't guaranteed to even be as good as Dalot, let alone better. While we'd also lose a player who has all of the personal qualities that we keep bemoaning this squad has a lack of. Seems daft to me.

Written by Shappy January 31 2026 13:07:14