Back in 2018, José Mourinho said Digo Dalot had the potential to follow in Gary Neville’s footsteps at Manchester United, but the Special One is now pushing to bring his compatriot to Rome.
Dalot is one of Roma‘s main transfer targets in January. Mourinho is unhappy with Roma’s depth and has recently criticised the club’s transfer strategy in the summer even if the Giallorossi were the highest spenders in Serie A.
Mourinho wants a new right-back who can allow him to rest Rick Karsdorp and Dalot is a valuable option given his experience with the Special One and his experience in Serie A.
Mourinho signed Dalot in 2018, when he was in charge of Manchester United.
“Everybody knows that he has fantastic potential,” Mourinho told United’s official website at that time.
“I don’t want to compare, especially not the number of titles but he is probably the same age as Gary Neville when he came into the first team. Probably he can follow Neville in this dynamic of more than 10 years as United’s right-back, with amazing conditions to improve, because as I was saying he’s 19 years old.”
However, Dalot’s development at Old Trafford wasn’t the same as Mourinho expected.
He has only played 41 games over two seasons and a half with the Red Devils.
Last season, he joined Milan on a dry loan deal, managing one goal in 21 appearances.
He wasn’t a regular starter under Stefano Pioli, but the Rossoneri were happy with his performances as they re-tried to sign the Portugal international on a temporary deal over the summer.
Dalot, 22, has only played six games across all competitions with Manchester United this term and Roma are willing to sign him on loan with an option to buy.
Perhaps, his close relationship with José Mourinho could push him to the Stadio Olimpico at the beginning of 2022.
“Jose was a big influence on me coming here,” Dalot explained after moving to Manchester United in 2018.
“He was very important. His history speaks for itself, the way he is coaching and the way that he has made football change.
“It is the fact that is he is Portuguese too. The relationship that he has with the players is very good, and it was quite impressive to me. He pushed me to come here and the way that he believed in me was very good. That is why I am here. He is a big reason why I came.”
Will history repeat itself in Rome?