Two Athletic journalists believe INEOS must retain one Man Utd star who works "exceptionally hard"

Manchester United are preparing for a big summer transfer window.

The Red Devils have to bolster their midfield with at least two new players.

While a significant portion of the budget will be allocated to that area, other positions within the squad also demand attention.

Athletic journalist Carl Anka strongly believes that United should “retain” Diogo Dalot.

Anka said on the Talk of the Devil podcast: “He works exceptionally hard. United must retain him. You have the confidence that when there are 50-60 games in a season, he will play the majority of those games.”

Renowned journalist Andy Mitten agreed with his colleague. He said: “I feel United fans could be a bit harsh on him.

“I totally agree. Since he has moved back to right-back, he has been a good Man United performer.”

The good and the bad

The 26-year-old is the second longest-serving player in the current United squad.

The truth is that Dalot is capable of brilliance and frustration within the same 90 minutes.

On the positive side, he has been a dependable presence for United over the past few seasons.

Availability is one of his greatest strengths, with Dalot rarely sidelined thanks to his elite fitness and recovery standards. He has openly credited Cristiano Ronaldo for influencing his professionalism.

Physically robust, Dalot is more than capable of holding his own in aerial duels.

Whenever injuries have stretched the squad, he has consistently stepped up to fill the gaps.

Naturally a right-back, he has shown admirable versatility by covering roles at left-back, wing-back, and even right centre-back when required.

Every successful squad needs players like him, who are reliable and adaptable.

When playing at right-back under head coach Michael Carrick, he has shown the ability to whip dangerous crosses into the box. Can he do it more regularly? Yes.

He reads the game well and often makes clever forward runs to find space.
Yet, his end product frequently lets him down, with promising opportunities wasted by wayward finishing. Can he improve? A lot.

What sets Dalot apart is his mentality and character. He has never shied away from responsibility, regularly facing the media and supporters during difficult periods.

United fans will always have divided opinions about Dalot and much of that stems from his inconsistency.

Stats from Fotmob.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .