Of all the baffling recruitments by Manchester United over the last 10 years, squandering £50million on a right-back a year after they had signed a right-back takes some beating.
That Diogo Dalot has started the club's last 24 games and is the only outfield player to have lined up in all of their fixtures this season marks a remarkable turnaround. Under the previous permanent regime, Timothy Fosu-Mensah was resurrected like Lazarus to start ahead of Dalot.
It has taken the best part of four years, but Dalot is now living up to Jose Mourinho's billing as United's right-back for the next 10 years. At £19m, Dalot is one of a handful of logical long-term investments.
Also read: United to hire recruitment analyst for new goalkeeper
Mourinho's bold proclamation was made in Bern in September 2018 after Dalot's long-awaited debut. A meniscus injury had delayed his introduction to United supporters until he lined up against Young Boys in the Champions League.
In an otherwise vibrant debut, Dalot erred in the first-half with his manager within earshot. Moments later, Dalot dutifully approached the dugout for a drink, anticipating a pointer or two. Mourinho respectfully stayed mum.
Mourinho was asked about Dalot at his post-match debrief and diplomatically demurred, extolling Luke Shaw first before lauding his compatriot. "First match for the club after knee surgery, I think very good, solid performance, I think everybody could see the potential and everybody could see that he is a 19-year-old player who has more than 10 years to play for Manchester United."
At various points, that quote has been dredged up to deride Mourinho's judgement. Dalot started once in the Premier League in his second season and his third was spent on loan with AC Milan. After two injury-laden first seasons, Dalot has been injury-free for over two years, coinciding with his work placement in Italy.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer never rated Dalot and caustically analysed his apparent inability to defend after the Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma had him on toast. Against West Ham on Sunday, Dalot's defending was man-of-the-match worthy until David de Gea clawed away Kurt Zouma's header.
Dalot and Kieran Trippier - coveted by Solskjaer last year - have been the standout Premier League right-backs in the first three months of the season. The trust Erik ten Hag has in Dalot is shared by the United media staff, for whom Dalot has become the dependable voice of the dressing room in mixed zones.
On the pitch, Dalot communicates in Portuguese, Spanish and English with teammates and is fluent in Italian from his year in Lombardy. The polyglot Mourinho would approve of the quadrilingual protege he considered re-signing at Roma last year.
Ten Hag has favoured a Latino presence in the United defence and Dalot has embraced defending as ardently as Lisandro Martinez. "I think he's developing quite well from the start," Ten Hag said of Dalot.
"You could see he has the power, the physical strength, power that he can bring in his attacking game, but I think he is progressing game from game in the defending part as well, and finding his position, anticipation, cooperation with the back four, cooperation with his winger.
"So he he is making really good progress and I am happy with that. I have to mention Man United need two good full-backs because we have a lot of games to play." United only have one.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to training last week and was still absent from both matchday squads, with Ten Hag forced to list two goalkeepers on the bench against West Ham. He was listed as a substitute against Real Sociedad in September yet took his seat in the directors' box as kick-off loomed.
It is easy to forget Wan-Bissaka actually played for United this season (the last four minutes against Liverpool) yet he has not started since April.
United enquired about the Barcelona right-back Sergino Dest in the summer. Wan-Bissaka was given such advance notice he was surplus that last season had still not ended. Eventually, United will have to cut their losses on the most expensive footballer never to play for England.
Wan-Bissaka's prolonged absence is shrouded in mystery. Ten Hag has never officially specified the issue and he lives by the patient-doctor confidentiality code that a reporter discovered to comedic effect when they enquired about Antony's absence.
"Antony? Today, he could not play. I don't think it's a huge problem, I think in a couple of days he can recover. I hope he will be available for Thursday in Sociedad."
"Sorry, what part of his body is it?"
"His leg." Cue smiles and laughter.
Barcelona are firm admirers of Dalot, who has beeped on the radars of Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid. Milan were keen on retaining the Portuguese and it is churlish of United to delay a decision on extending Dalot's contract.
It is a matter of time until United exercise their plus-one option and that strategy buys them time to negotiate a completely new renewal. It would be a shrewd investment.
READ MORE:
