Roma are reportedly ready to accelerate their pursuit of Manchester United misfit Diogo Dalot in the upcoming January transfer window. Per Italian publication, Gazzetta dello Sport, the Giallorossi manager Jose Mourinho has informed the club’s technical director Tiago Pinto over his intention to land the Portuguese full-back this winter.
Dalot has been on the fringes at Old Trafford since arriving from Porto in summer 2018. Coincidentally, Mourinho was the man in charge in Manchester when the Red Devils forked out around £19million to capture the versatile defender’s services. The Special One is now keen to reunite with his former protege at the Stadio Olimpico to solve a full-back crisis in the Italian capital.
Leonardo Spinazzola, who enjoyed a stellar Euro 2020 campaign with Italy, picked up a long-term injury during the tournament and won’t return to action soon. His absence has prompted Mourinho to explore several options in the market to add competition in the right-back, where Rick Karsdorp remains the indispensable starter.
It’s been a while since Mourinho laid his eyes on Dalot, and it seems like he is ready to go for broke to bring the 22-year-old back to Serie A. The Portugal international spent last season on loan at Milan before returning to Man United this summer. Having made just eight appearances in all competitions this season, Dalot has already realized it’s time to move on.
Dalot registered his first Premier League start at Old Trafford for two years on Thursday, replacing Aaron Wan-Bissaka in United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal. He was a bit-part player in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s set-up, but with the Norwegian now gone, the Portuguese starlet’s future in Manchester is up in the air.
It remains to be seen whether the impending manager Ralf Rangnick will count on Dalot, while the Old Trafford powerbrokers are reportedly ready to discuss the youngster’s departure.