Transfer Centre

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot 'has no interest in Barcelona move'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 16 August 2022

Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot reportedly has no interest in joining Barcelona this summer, despite suggestions over a potential swap deal involving Frenkie de Jong.

Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot reportedly has no interest in joining Barcelona this summer.

The 23-year-old is now regarded as Erik ten Hag's first-choice right-back at Old Trafford, moving ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the pecking order, but his future at the club has recently been questioned.

Reports in Spain claim that the Red Devils offered Dalot to Barcelona as part of a deal to sign midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is still viewed as Ten Hag's top target this summer.

However, the report adds that Dalot is happy at United and has the confidence of Ten Hag, while Barca do not view the Portugal international as one of their primary right-back targets.

A separate report stated that Dalot could be offered in exchange for Sergino Dest, although this rumour now appears to be wide off the mark.

Manchester United's Diogo Dalot pictured on July 12, 2022 © Reuters

Dalot arrived at Old Trafford from Porto for around £19m in the summer of 2018 and spent two years as a squad-rotation player before joining AC Milan on loan for the 2020-21 campaign.

After an impressive spell in Italy, the right-back returned to United last season but initially struggled for regular game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, Dalot was favoured under Ralf Rangnick following his appointment as interim boss at the end of November last year, and the defender went on to start 22 times across all competitions.

Dalot, who has just a year remaining on his contract, has since played the full 90 minutes under Ten Hag in both of United's opening two Premier League fixtures, and is expected to keep his place at right-back for the foreseeable future ahead of Wan-Bissaka, who is seemingly the most likely of the two to depart this summer.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka in action for Manchester United in October 2021 © Reuters

Wan-Bissaka is allegedly one of four right-backs who have been added to Barcelona's shortlist of targets this summer, along with Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier, Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong and Villarreal's Juan Foyth.

The 24-year-old endured a difficult 2021-22 campaign an Old Trafford and is believed to have been told by the Red Devils that he is free to leave this summer.

Barca head coach Xavi is keen to recruit a new right-back after missing out on signing Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta, who decided to put pen to paper on a new two-year contract at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.

Dest and Sergio Roberto are two options at Xavi's disposal, although centre-back Ronald Araujo was instead named on the right side of a back four in their goalless draw at home to Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

United could turn their attention to Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries should they agree to let Wan-Bissaka leave for Barcelona or another club this summer.