Diogo Dalot’s stance on Man United signing Erik ten Hag favourite Noussair Mazraoui is clear

Diogo Dalot’s stance on Manchester United signing Erik ten Hag favourite Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich is clear.

It’s looking increasingly likely that United will be signing Mazraoui from the Bundesliga giants, with an agreement reached with the player and club.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s exit is the only thing standing in the way of the deal, and it has been reported that the 26-year-old’s move to West Ham is accelerating.

This would mean that Ten Hag would have Dalot and Mazraoui as right-back options in his squad, and it is well-known how important the Moroccan was in the successful Ajax team that the United manager led before his Old Trafford move.

Dalot has been a mainstay in the United team since the Dutchman took charge, barring an injury spell in the 2022/23 campaign. No player started more games than him last season.

Yet, should Mazraoui be able to stay consistently fit, it could be argued that Ten Hag might prefer his former fullback to the Portuguese defender.

It always seemed clear that Ten Hag preferred Dalot to Wan-Bissaka, but this move would provide a more direct competitor in the manager’s eyes. Dalot has always been clear that he wants there to be competition for positions.

“It’s the standard at this club,” he said last year when speaking about that competition. “You have to compete for a position in a healthy way. As long as we keep this competition, I think it’s going to be better for us as a team.

“We have at least two or three players per position, which can be a bigger headache for the manager, but for us, as a team, it’s the best thing because we have quality.

“When one player cannot play, the other will play and do the job as well, so I think it all benefits the team. I think that’s most important.”

Dalot was regularly the backup for Wan-Bissaka before Ralf Rangnick came into the club as interim manager, so he knows both roles.

“By having two players per position, I think that gives us quality, but it also brings us more responsibility to each of us,” Dalot reiterated.

“Every time we have an opportunity to play, we have to give our best because we know that there’s someone who wants to play in your position as well.

“This responsibility has to be good for us but in a way that collectively we can reach good things.”

Mazraoui could join the club in the coming days, but he will not travel to the United States for the tour. If the deal is completed, he will start training at Carrington ahead of the team’s return next week.

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