Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim must put his faith in a Red Devils star who has been “taking a lot of steps” in the ‘right’ direction at Old Trafford.
That is according to Red Devils legend Jaap Stam, who has warned Ruben Amorim not to sell one underperforming Manchester United star.
Amorim took charge at United at the start of the November international break and replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat.
United triggered the £9.25m release clause in the 39-year-old Portuguese manager’s Sporting CP contract after Erik ten Hag was sacked in late October.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed interim United manager after Ten Hag was axed by the club and the Red Devils legend took charge for four matches.
The 48-year-old former United assistant manager, who is now the head coach of Leicester City, left Old Trafford after the arrival of former Sporting CP boss Amorim.
Stam wants Amorim to keep Man Utd star
Ruben Amorim, who inked a contract with Manchester United until June 2027, has shaken up the Red Devils’ playing style with his tactical approach on the field.
United have switched to playing with a three-man backline under Amorim, with the Red Devils boss keen to take advantage of the flanks with his wing-backs.
Diogo Dalot was a standout performer for former United manager Erik ten Hag last season and the right-back came into his own at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old Portuguese defender made 50 appearances for the Red Devils in the 2023-24 campaign and Diogo Dalot was consistent with his performances.
Dalot’s impressive run of form under Ten Hag earned him the United Players’ Player of the Year award for the previous Premier League season.
However, fast-forward to the current campaign and United full-back Dalot has struggled to impress and has come under criticism for his performances.
“Selling Diogo Dalot would be a mistake, he’s been improving season on season and taking a lot of steps,” Jaap Stam told Sports Lens.
“He is defensively much stronger and more aware of both his position and his role in stopping the opposition.
“In the beginning, he was lacking that awareness but he is quick and is still working on becoming a better defensive player having made plenty of improvements already.
“He can cross the ball, score goals, and play on both the outside and inside. If you want to win trophies then you don’t sell players like that.”
Stam on fixing Dalot’s problems
Diogo Dalot has been sacrificed to play out of his preferred position on the right and has been deployed as a makeshift left-back at times.
The Portugal international also faces increasing competition out on the right after the arrival of Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich in the summer.
Amad Diallo can play out on the right flank in the wing-back role under Amorim as well, with the Ivorian attacker excelling for the Red Devils this season.
Stam remained firm that Dalot must remain at Old Trafford and suggested one way that Amorim could bring “balance and consistency” with the player in his team.
“If United could have Alphonso Davies on the left and Diogo Dalot on the right then they would have that balance and consistency across the width of the team,” he continued.
“Selling Dalot would be a big mistake.”
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