Barcelona will reportedly look to beat Real Madrid to the signature of 25-year-old Manchester United mainstay Diogo Dalot.
According to a report by Caught Offside, Diogo Dalot is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Manchester United defensive mainstay is also a target for Real Madrid, with Los Blancos ready to cough up £50 million to secure his services. However, the Catalan giants will look to steal a march on their bitter rivals in the race to land the Portuguese international.
Diogo Dalot and his story so far
Diogo Dalot has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining Manchester United from FC Porto in July 2018. Back then, Jose Mourinho hailed the then-teenager as one of “the best full-back in Europe in his age group”. However, he had to bide his time before proving his compatriot right.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not utilise Dalot regularly, and the player established himself as a pivotal figure for Manchester United under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag. The 25-year-old has turned out over 150 times thus far for the Premier League heavyweights while chipping in with six goals and 12 assists.
Meanwhile, Dalot’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Recent reports have linked the Portuguese international with Real Madrid, with Caught Offside suggesting Barcelona will look to steal a march on Los Blancos.
La Liga adventure beckons?
Real Madrid’s interest in Diogo Dalot is understandable. The Merengues are scouring the market for a right-back heading into the January transfer window after losing Dani Carvajal to a season-ending knee injury. So, the Manchester United mainstay has emerged as a viable target, with Real Madrid ready to cough up £50 million to secure his services.
As for Barcelona, Jules Kounde has been exemplary as a right-back, even though he is primarily a centre-back. However, the Frenchman prefers reprising his preferred role, compelling Barcelona to scour the market for a right-back. Dalot is thus an option worth considering for the Blaugrana.
Barcelona will hope to take advantage of the Portuguese connection through Deco to beat Real Madrid to Dalot’s signature. However, it is unclear if Manchester United will be open to parting ways with the 25-year-old in the coming weeks.