In case you still don’t believe Diogo Dalot is signing for Manchester United, you should take a look at how the Portuguese press has been treating the news.
Today, newspaper Diário de Notícias have managed to have an interview with former Arsenal player Luis Boa Morte, and current scout, just to talk about the transfer.
They take the move as pretty much done, and ask the former Portuguese international how the youngster should face such a transfer at the age of 19.
“Diogo Dalot will have the advantage of going to work with a Portuguese manager,” Boa Morte told Diário de Notícias. “I got all the difficulties and some more. At that time the way of working was different, now they give all the conditions for a player to succeed. In my time, it was rare for English clubs to sign young foreign players, and even fewer Portuguese.”
Boa Morte has been acting as a scout for a few years now, so he isn’t just an ex-player giving his opinion, as he actually works evaluating youngsters from the Portuguese league. That’s why he knows something about the Porto youngster and his performances this season.
“I went to England and everything was different. For example, Dalot has already played at FC Porto this year, trained with the first team, played for the B team still at the age of junior. That gave him a starting point and that is half way to face joining United.
“When I arrived I spoke little English, something that is now unacceptable in footballers who go through the youth squads of the national teams, for example, who already have this obligation,” said Boa Morte. “Dalot is physically a strong player.”
On the adaptation to a new country, Boa Morte has given the youngster a few tips, and still claims he will be fine at such big club like Manchester United.
“First of all we have to try to figure out which club the player will go to, who will he have to support him. However, integration depends on the intelligence with which the new reality is approached and who gets the new message faster, integrates more easily.
“Which young man would not like to play for Manchester United? I hope God wants everything to go well for him.”
