Diogo Dalot was not expected to immediately become a starter when he signed for Manchester United last summer, but the young full-back has done well in his first season showing plenty of promise when called upon.
Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer usually opts for Ashley Young at right-back, perhaps due to his experience in an already young defence, but the 19-year-old isn’t far behind.
Next season should see Dalot get more starts at Old Trafford as we’ve enjoyed some of his performances thus far. He likes to get forward and entertain the crowd with some trickery, and there’s enough pace and strength for him to be a good defender also.
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But what is Dalot like as a person?
Recent evidence would suggest Dalot’s a good lad who has not forgotten his roots after donating part of his first pay cheque he received at United to his old team, Fintas Football School in Braga.
In an interview with Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t The Mirror), Fintas co-ordinator Luis Travassos revealed how the youngster bought his old club a new bus, something they wouldn’t have been able to afford themselves.
“We received an invitation to dine at his parents’ house, a fantastic family that greatly contributed to his success. We thought we were going to get a signed Manchester United shirt and, indeed, it was there waiting for us, which left us radiant. But there was more…
“We talked to Diogo via Skype. He was on the bus going to a game. He told us to go outside. We had a van for the club on the doorstep!
“It was a shock! We were not expecting it.
“He prepared everything in secret: he reserved a budget from the first salary in England for that surprise. It’s very gratifying. This gave us chills.
“We had a van, but it was old. This comes to meet the requirements of the new legislation for the transport of children up to 14 years old: the windows open up only half, the back door only opens by the driver’s action, it requires license for transport of children.
“Coming from him, it doesn’t surprise us. He has always shown great principles of solidarity, showing a sense of help and concern for others. He got us used to acts of generosity, but of this size and after he barely arrived in Manchester.”
Lovely gesture!
