Diogo Dalot hit a major career milestone on Sunday as he made his 200th appearance for Manchester United in an entertaining 1-1 draw against Arsenal. The Portuguese defender’s journey, from a teenage signing under Jose Mourinho to a consistent name in United’s turbulent teams afterwards, with an AC Milan loan in between, has earned him a name for himself in his six seasons at the club.
Signed from Porto in 2018, Dalot arrived as a raw talent with explosive pace and a brilliant right foot. Early promise was hampered by injuries, including a knee issue that delayed his debut until September 2018. A loan spell at AC Milan in 2020/21 proved pivotal for his comeback after being in and out of the team after falling in the pecking order behind Wan-Bissaka at Right Back. However, upon returning, he battled Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the right-back slot, emerging as a versatile option capable of filling in on the left back as well, a trait that has earned him 43 appearances this season alone.
Dalot’s 200th game came amid another frustrating result for United as they couldn’t take the three points despite coming close. This was United’s sixth straight winless league match against Arsenal. Bruno Fernandes’ first-half free-kick was cancelled out by Declan Rice. Reflecting on his personal achievement, “When you sign for a big club like this, you want to live every moment,” he told BBC Match of the Day. “To achieve this milestone, it was a proud moment for me and my family.”
His tenure has yielded just two trophies so far, the 2023 Carabao Cup and 2024 FA Cup. For a player who dreamed of Premier League titles, it’s a lean haul. Yet Dalot’s contributions transcend silverware. His Champions League heroics against PSG in 2019, a thunderous shot leading to Marcus Rashford’s penalty winner, remains iconic. This season, he’s been a regular in the backline with Amorim distributing his time on both the right and left wing back positions.
At 25, Dalot’s focus is firmly on reviving United’s fortunes. “We cannot be satisfied until we are at the top again,” he insisted. His new five-year contract, signed in 2023, signals mutual belief and appreciation. But challenges loom around him and United as the club sits at a lowly 14th place. Dalot has also come under fire for his lack of decision-making on the flanks. However, his adaptability and ball switching has been appreciated by the manager.
Individual milestones mean little without collective success. As Amorim’s rebuilds Manchester United, Dalot expresses hope to stay at the club for long and win silverware for the club. The road back to elite status is long, but Dalot’s 200-game grind suggests he’s ready for the fight.