Dalot Could Miss Rest of the Season, Says Amorim

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Portugal defender Diogo Dalot could miss the remainder of the season due to a calf injury.

Dalot made only a brief appearance as a substitute in United’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves on Sunday, as Amorim attempted to manage his fitness for the crucial final games of the season.

However, the versatile full-back has now sustained a muscle injury that threatens to end his campaign prematurely.

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“Diogo Dalot is out. He has a muscle issue in his calf. He’s out for the upcoming matches,” Amorim told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth.

Dalot has made 51 appearances for United this season across all competitions, missing only one match through suspension.

When asked if the 26-year-old could be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Amorim responded, “There is that possibility, but I don’t know. We’ll assess him week by week because he works very hard and can recover quite well.”

He added, “He had a run of games where he played regularly. We tried to manage him, but some players have to play a lot of minutes.”

Dalot’s injury comes as a significant setback for United, with a crucial Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao just days away.

United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, and Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November, is on course to oversee their worst league finish since relegation from the top flight in 1973-74.

United are already guaranteed their lowest points total in Premier League history, which began in 1992. A major squad overhaul is expected, even if they secure Europa League glory.

When asked if he had identified players he would like to sell in the upcoming transfer window, Amorim said, “Yes, I could say that. Of course, this conversation will happen at the end of the week, but I have a clear idea because we need to act early. But things can change until the end of the season.”

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, but Amorim declined to comment on the Brazilian international.

“I will not say anything about Matheus because once I comment, I’ll have to clarify every situation, whether it’s yes or no. So, I won’t comment on that,” he said.

“We are focused on this season. Even the way we prepare for the next season could change in these games, so it’s difficult to predict what will happen.”

United need to win the Europa League to secure European football next season, with Champions League qualification up for grabs for the tournament winner.

Despite the club’s challenges, Amorim insisted that Manchester United remain an attractive destination for top players, regardless of their European status.

“It’s Manchester United. What I feel is that many players want to play for our club,” he said. “I know that if you look at our club at the moment, with all the issues surrounding staff, people leaving, changing coaches, and the results, it might look like a bit of a problem right now.”

“But we have a clear idea, and that is the easiest part to explain to a player. And then, every player wants to play for Manchester United.”