AC Milan travel to face Benevento on Sunday afternoon and it’s expected Diogo Dalot will get a starting place in the team. That’s due to Theo Hernandez being unavailable, and in the past few days there’s been reports in Italy insisting the fullback really needs to impress.
Loaned from Manchester United in the summer, Dalot has played just 109 minutes in Serie A this season, being used much more in the Europa League. Milan don’t have a buying option, so for the Rossoneri to be prepared to enter discussions to sign the 21-year-old permanently they need to see more from him.
In Italy it’s assumed Manchester United didn’t agree to a buying option because they still see a long term future for Dalot at Old Trafford. Speaking to Portuguese newspaper Record, the player has hinted he feels the same way.
Record put it to Dalot that Milan fans ask him to stay, and United supporters ask him to return, to which he replied: “It is always positive to see the feedback from Milan fans and the affection that United fans have for me. It’s fantastic to feel that. But my focus is solely and exclusively on the present. The gift is Milan and helping the club to fulfil its goals and mine. It wouldn’t be professional to be otherwise.”
The newspaper then pressed further and asked if he wants to return to Manchester to show United the ‘real Dalot’, and he made clear that’s an ambition: “Of course, the feeling is a little deeper, more because I didn’t have the time I liked physically. I spent great moments at United. I played very important games for me and the team.
“I left with a bit of a bittersweet feeling for not being physically available for all those games I lost due to injury. But it is what it is. I wouldn’t change anything because what I learned was very important for my future and how I am now. I don’t regret it or look back with disappointment.”
All eyes towards Campania then, to see how Dalot gets on against Benevento later today.
