Former England international Carlton Cole has launched a scathing assessment of Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot, insisting the Portuguese right-back has remained at Old Trafford longer than his performances deserve.
Dalot has established himself as one of United’s longest-serving players since joining the Premier League giants from Porto in 2018 for a reported £19 million. The 27-year-old has made more than 250 appearances for the club.
Despite former United manager Jose Mourinho once describing him as the ‘best young full-back in Europe’, Dalot has struggled to convince sections of the club’s supporters with his performances over the years.
His recent displays have attracted further criticism, particularly following United’s Champions League victory over Roma and their 4-4 Premier League draw against Aston Villa on Sunday.
The defender was branded ‘atrocious’ after the Roma encounter and also faced boos from sections of the Old Trafford crowd when interim manager Michael Carrick substituted him against Aston Villa.
Reacting to United’s ongoing struggles, Cole questioned why Dalot remains part of the squad, suggesting the defender has benefited enormously from his continued stay at the club.
Speaking on The Dressing Room podcast, the former Chelsea striker also questioned Carrick’s team selections and the decision to continue trusting certain players.
‘It’s got to be down to Michael Carrick as well,’ Cole said on the podcast, discussing the major problems at Old Trafford.
‘He’s picking certain players for that team, and I’m thinking, “How are you even still there?” I’ve said it before, but Diogo Dalot—how is he still there?
‘He’s nowhere near good enough. You can’t rely on him. All he’s thinking about is his next paycheque—that’s what’s on his mind.
‘He’s not concerned with saving the manager’s job. He probably can’t believe his luck that he’s there, playing at Old Trafford in front of those brilliant fans, in a beautiful stadium steeped in history.’
Cole’s comments add to the growing scrutiny surrounding Dalot, whose performances have increasingly come under the spotlight as Manchester United continue to deal with inconsistency and pressure to improve their results.