Dalot: Joining Manchester United Was the Right Decision; Portugal Need to Build Team Strength

Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot recently spoke in an interview with DAZN, discussing United's start to the new season, his decision to leave Porto at the time, and Portugal's performance at the 2026 World Cup.

In the new Premier League season, Dalot came on as a substitute in the opening match against Hull City, then started consecutively against Ipswich Town and Everton. The team suffered an early-season surprise defeat, losing 0-2 to Hull City. Dalot admitted the poor start was disappointing: “Last season we built a good foundation, and everyone had expectations for the new season. The early results were not ideal, which is frustrating for the fans. Manchester United are born to compete for titles, and we must win as many matches as possible.”

He believes a poor start does not mean all the training work has failed: “Results can hide many things we have done well on the pitch. That is how it is at big clubs; the outside world only focuses on the final score. Fortunately, football always gives us chances to correct mistakes. Every player needs to reflect on themselves and be willing to make sacrifices, whether that means spending less time with family or putting more effort into training and recovery. Our goals are to compete in the Champions League, reach cup finals, and challenge for the Premier League title. The atmosphere within the squad is very good, the squad depth is strong, and we have the ability to handle a packed schedule.”

Looking back on his decision to leave his boyhood club Porto for Manchester United in a €22 million move, Dalot said it was the right choice. He suffered an injury soon after arriving at United and once questioned his decision, but nearly nine years have now passed and he feels deeply about the journey: “This experience shaped my mentality. Leaving my homeland and competing in the most competitive league in the world, countless difficult moments helped me mature emotionally and professionally, allowing me to handle setbacks more calmly.” During that period, he also spent time on loan at AC Milan.

Speaking about the Portugal national team, Dalot referred to Portugal's 0-1 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, with Merino scoring the decisive late winner. Dalot said Portuguese football is gaining increasing recognition around the world and that the team has many highly talented players, but individual ability does not equal team success.

“In recent years we have proven that we are capable of competing with any team in the world. But in major tournaments like the World Cup and European Championship, individual talent alone is far from enough. We need to find the missing piece of the puzzle and turn individual talent into a powerful collective unit. I believe Portugal can once again make the nation proud in future major tournaments.”