​Carrick blocks Dalot sale as right-back shines in World Cup stalemate
Diogo Dalot, the Manchester United right-back aged 27, made his first appearance of the 2026 World Cup for Portugal as a second-half substitute in the 0-0 draw with Colombia. He delivered a composed 45-minute cameo, showcasing a 100% tackle success rate, 92% pass completion from 24 attempts, and a clean-sheet contribution. Those numbers will not go unnoticed at Carrington as United evaluate their options at right-back heading into the summer. Portugal failed to clinch the win needed to top the group, but Dalot’s display was among the few genuine positives from the stalemate. He came on for FC Barcelona’s João Cancelo in the 45th minute, entering with the match still goalless and Portugal needing a result to pressure the standings.
What the numbers say—a controlled, efficient performance in a tight game
Dalot defended cleanly throughout, winning 100% of his tackles, recovering the ball once, making one clearance, and winning 3 of 4 ground duels. His crossing was perfect on the limited attempts he took. In the stats from the Portugal-Colombia draw, Dalot produced an xA of 0.09 from half a match, reflecting the low attacking tempo. He carried the ball 13 times, with only one progression classified as forward—again underscoring a display of reliability rather than adventurous forays, precisely what the situation required.
The United angle—Carrick’s stance, and the numbers backing it
Dalot’s World Cup showing comes at a pivotal moment for his club career. He appeared in 36 matches across all competitions for United last season, first under Rúben Amorim and then under Michael Carrick, reinforcing his status as the first-choice right-back regardless of the manager. Carrick has already told INEOS to block any sale of Dalot despite reported interest from European clubs. The underlying numbers support that stance: a 55% tackling success rate from 127 league attempts, alongside an 85% passing accuracy from the middle third, suggest the World Cup cameo is not an outlier but a reflection of consistently high performance. His 93.5% passing accuracy at Euro 2024 pointed in the same direction.
The caveat remains attacking output. Dalot has one goal in 36 United appearances, and his xA figures have rarely threatened to change games. That profile—defensive and structural rather than a prolific attacking outlet—may not be a problem, but it is a factor to consider for his future role at United.