Diogo Dalot: Manchester United sign Porto right-back for £19m

By Simon StoneBBC Sport

Last updated on 6 June 2018.From the section Man Utd891

Dalot played in the Champions League against Liverpool this season

Manchester United have signed the "best young full-back in Europe" in Diogo Dalot, says manager Jose Mourinho.

The 19-year-old, who has made seven first-team appearances, has signed a five-year contract after the Red Devils agreed to pay Porto £19m for him.

Dalot has represented Portugal from under-15 to under-21 level and made his Porto debut in October.

"The chance of coming to the biggest club in the world is something I just couldn't turn down," said Dalot.

Dalot came through the youth ranks at Porto and played in a 0-0 draw against Liverpool in the Champions League last 16 in March.

He is expected to provide competition for United captain Antonio Valencia.

"In his age group, he is the best full-back in Europe," said Mourinho.

"He is an extremely talented young defender with all the qualities to quickly become a great player for this club.

"He has all the attributes that a full-back needs: physicality, tactical intelligence and technical quality, combined with a Porto academy mentality which prepares players for the maturity they need at the professional level."

The transfer should hasten the exits of Italian full-back Matteo Darmian, who has been strongly linked with Juventus, and Netherlands defender Daley Blind. Neither player has a long-term future under Mourinho.

He is determined to strengthen his defence for what he hopes will be a far closer Premier League battle with champions Manchester City next term.

United announced on Tuesday that they have agreed a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazil midfielder Fred, for a reported £47m.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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891 comments

Comment posted by jaycee, at 14:20 6 Jun 2018
@10. United fans are no better/worse than whoever you support! Could point to Chelsea fans pushing a black guy off the train, West Ham fans fighting at their own stadium, Liverpool fans attacking City's bus... Every club has their idiots
Comment posted by Henry, at 14:43 6 Jun 2018
'United don't use youth players anymore' - Rashford, Lingard and McTominay all featured as regular first team players last year, how many mancs do city have in the starting 11? Scousers in Liverpools? They still play more home grown players than any other top 6 club. The amount of uneducated football fans on here is laughable.
Comment posted by JonSocks, at 14:14 6 Jun 2018
I think he costs Dalot of money.
Comment posted by You, at 14:15 6 Jun 2018
Cue all the trolls who have never heard of him but think he's rubbish anyway...
Comment posted by Yeahbaby, at 14:26 6 Jun 2018
Unfortunately for all the other teams in England, Man Utd are still one of the biggest teams in World Football. This is why they are hated. Jealousy.
One day that may change who knows but for now and the foreseeable they are.
Man City are brilliant at present but it will take a couple of decades to get up there. Chelsea tried and had success but still are not at that level. You can't buy history
Comment posted by Balanced viewpoint, at 14:20 6 Jun 2018
7. Posted by TommyF on
1 minute ago
Silly BBC when they gonna learn..just because Moanino says someone is the best player it doesn't really mean it's true now does it?

- - - - - -

They were quoting what Mourinho said not expressing their belief that he is correct.

Sorry if that's confusing.
Comment posted by Blockfeet, at 14:17 6 Jun 2018
"The chance of coming to the biggest club in the world is something I just couldn't turn down," said Dalot.

How come you’ve ended up at Man Utd then?
Comment posted by Van der Kevo, at 15:06 6 Jun 2018
I'm amazed at the amount of sheer ignorant, stupid or deluded posters. Yes some are just wind up's and make me laugh, but some are being serious so really need to seek help! Anyone who seriously believes City are a bigger club than United are simpetons. Yes, city are by far the better team, but they are nowhere near as big a club as United
Comment posted by tcraig37, at 14:29 6 Jun 2018
Pretty sure the same was said about Luke Shaw..
Comment posted by turkish, at 14:22 6 Jun 2018
£56m cheaper than Van Dijk.
Comment posted by Give_Me_A_Break, at 14:37 6 Jun 2018
Wouldn't it be nice if these comments could be populated by people with a valid view, not by people dismissing him without having seen him play? I suggest waiting a few months to see how he settles in. Then, and only then, could such negative comments be valid.
Comment posted by FLAPPERS, at 16:00 6 Jun 2018
You can never take anyone seriously on the internet who end their sentences with GGMU or YNWA. I'm very confident these people have an IQ equal to or less than a carrot
Comment posted by Wackford Squeers, at 14:28 6 Jun 2018
42. Posted by difficult clue on Just now

19 is on the young side to be a bus driver

How do we know he can park one ?

-----

No point asking a Loserpool fan, their open top bus hasn't moved in years.
Comment posted by Duncan, at 14:35 6 Jun 2018
Just watched his highlights vs Liverpool at Anfield, where he was actually playing his secondary position at left back. Seemed to have Milner in his back pocket all game, good positional sense and composure while getting forward well. Excited to see how he'll get on here.
Comment posted by Phil morel, at 15:55 6 Jun 2018
I remember Man Utd paying over 12 million in 2003 for an 18 year old kid that nobody had heard of who had only made 20 something appearances for Sporting and everyone said we had gone mad then. 12m back then would be the same as 35m today
Comment posted by marba, at 14:16 6 Jun 2018
at this price...Utd can afford to take a gamble.......
Comment posted by PeterPiper1978, at 14:43 6 Jun 2018
76 Davidindevon - Mourinho didn't sign Shaw you plum
Comment posted by danny gill, at 14:37 6 Jun 2018
united are gonna win Dalot
Comment posted by Milk and Honey, at 14:23 6 Jun 2018
I'm not going to pretend I know anything about this player. He comes as a highly rated prospect and I hope he can do well. Tbh we've had a problem with FBs since Neville/Evra left. We've played CBs there or played midfielders (Valencia, Young). Jose doesn't like Darmian and Shaw, and Daley Blind appears to be too slow. It's an area that needs to be sorted out, and hopefully this signing can help.
Comment posted by Cotona, at 14:19 6 Jun 2018
If he can defend, I'm happy. Express yourself all you want after that. Best RB in Premier league history was Gary Neville, and the less expressing he did the better! (unless in front of the Kop)