Manchester United have made their first transfer swoop of the season with the signing of the “best young full-back in Europe” as Diogo Dalot arrived from FC Porto on a five-year deal, with an option to extend for a further year.
The fee for the teenage right back is believed to be £19m and United boss Jose Mourinho immediately praised the youngster, saying:
“In his age group, he is the best full-back in Europe and we all believe he has a bright future ahead of him at Manchester United.
Mourinho added: “Diogo is an extremely talented young defender with all the qualities to quickly become a great player for this club.
“He has all the attributes that a full-back needs: physicality, tactical intelligence and technical quality, combined with a Porto Academy mentality which prepares players for the maturity they need at the professional level.”
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The 19-year-old Portuguese Under-21 international is a graduate of Porto’s youth system and made his debut in Portugal’s Primeira Liga earlier this year.
He was equally effusive about the challenge ahead of him to depose incumbent Reds right back Antonio Valencia, and said:
“Joining Manchester United is an unbelievable opportunity for me.
“I have grown up in Porto’s Academy and I am so thankful for everything they have done for me.
“But the chance of coming to the biggest club in the world is something I just couldn’t turn down.”
“I’m excited about working with Jose Mourinho and learning everything I can from such a successful coach.
“I am looking forward to playing alongside the fantastic players in the squad.”
As well as competition for Antonio Valencia, the signing of Dalot could spell the end of Italian right back Matteo Darmian’s spell at Old Trafford. The 28-year-old former Torino defender is entering the final year of his Manchester United contract and has been used sparingly by Mourinho.
Fred is a Red
United confirmed yesterday that an agreement had been reached to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s box-to-box midfielder Fred (much easier to pronounce than his full name – Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos).
The fee is believed to be in the region of £47m-52m for the 25-year-old who could become the seventh Brazilian to get game time for Manchester United after Kleberson, Anderson, Rodrigo Possebon, Rafael Da Silva, Fabio Da Silva and Andreas Pereira.
Fred had been linked with Manchester City in the winter transfer window but switched their attention to Napoli midfielder Jorginho as United’s interest increased at the end of the season.