Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot has appeared to suggest interim boss Ralf Rangnick made a mistake in the January transfer window.
Dalot, 22, has established himself in Rangnick’s preferred starting XI at the Red Devils as his consistent form has ousted Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the position.
Dalot has started 10 of the last 12 Premier League matches for United, where he has linked up with Portugal international teammates Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.
The full-back returned to Old Trafford this summer following a successful season-long loan stint at Milan and a successful showing in Euro 2020 with his nation.
Yet while speaking in a Q&A session on United’s website, the defender appeared to suggest that United’s interim coach may have made a mistake last month in the transfer window.
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It was a quiet month for United in the window as they did not make any additions to their first-team although they did allow Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial to depart on loan deals.
However, Dalot was asked who had been his toughest opponent in football and he named Martial from United’s training sessions.
The Frenchman was allowed to join Sevilla on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign after having restricted first-team opportunities under Rangnick and his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Dalot replied: “I’m going to say, in training, Anthony Martial.
“And playing, I’m going to say probably Lionel Messi when we played him at Barca (in the Champions League, 2019).”
Asked how it feels to be getting more game time, and what life is like under Rangnick, Dalot replied: “I’ve had the opportunity to say a few times now, the journey here at this club has been a quite good experience for me; learning my timings and getting to know me as a player as well.
“Now, as I’ve said, I always believed I could be a very good option for this club as a right-back. Like I’ve said, I want to be here for a lot of time, playing lots of games.
“That was my main goal to be at this club. Now, I’m having the opportunity to play a few more games and it’s been very good for me.
“And, about the manager as well, it’s been very good to get to know him; a different culture, different language and different mentality as well.
“It’s a new page for everyone and, for us, it’s been very good to get to know him.
“We know the experience he has in football, which is massive.”
Dalot has made 20 appearances for United this campaign while Martial is due to return to Old Trafford at the end of the campaign following his loan deal at Sevilla with his long-term future uncertain.
