There are intriguing shades of that 2003 Cristiano Ronaldo deal in Manchester United’s modern-day pursuit of another whizkid winger.
While the story has been exaggerated a little over the years – the Portuguese superstar was already on the Red Devils’ radar before that infamous pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon 21 years ago – it’s fair to say the dazzling performance of a buck-toothed, blonde-tipped Cristiano Ronaldo certainly did his hopes of a move to Manchester United no harm.
Only five days passed between a Ronaldo-inspired Sporting beating Manchester United at the newly-opened Estadio Jose Alvalade and the 18-year-old winger posing alongside Sir Alex Ferguson in that hideous technicolour jumper of his.
Two decades on, and while comparisons with one of football’s all-time greats can not yet be justified in terms of raw talent and potential, there are certainly shades of that Ronaldo deal as Man United eye up a a teenage dribble-king who could yet follow in his Old Trafford footsteps.
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Manchester United could repeat Cristiano Ronaldo deal with Tyler Dibling
Manchester United are reportedly watching Southampton’s Tyler Dibling. You know, the kid who gave Diogo Dalot the runaround just last week.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth is a big fan, having shown an interest in the 18-year-old during his time at Newcastle.
And, like Ronaldo in the green and white stripes of Sporting in the early-2000s, could a scintillating display up against the Red Devils’ backline convince Man United to turn their initial interest into something more concrete?
Dibling is clearly no ‘one-game wonder’.
After a sparkling pre-season, the Exeter-born 18-year-old continues to justify the faith of Saints boss Russell Martin. A first-ever senior goal to open the scoring in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town was taken with the sort of cool composure that Dibling is already making his trademark.
Understandably, most of the post-match discussion centred on him.
And Martin is certainly not surprised to see that Dibling is already generating his fair share of attention in scouting circles.
“I think, when you’re 18 and you’re playing in the Premier League at the level he has, then every club in the world probably looks at you,” Martin said at his post-match press conference, Sam Morsy cancelling out Dibling’s opener with 95 minutes on the clock.
“He’s ours.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Dibling earns Marcus Rashford comparisons
Martin adds that Southampton have already rejected approaches. Chelsea were reportedly keen on a player who had a brief spell in their own academy a few seasons back.
“The club have turned down bids for him previously since I’ve been here. It’s not a secret to people who have watched Under 21s football,” adds the former Swansea City and MK Dons boss. “We ultimately want what’s best for him and he has a great support network around him.
“We have to make sure he is constantly enjoying it and that we are playing a style that he can flourish in.
“The speculation is nothing for him or for me. We are in a strong position and I’m sure we will look at securing and strengthening that even more.
“If he carries on doing what he is doing, then he will deserve that. He just needs to focus on football and concentrate on what he is doing.”
Man United legend Rio Ferdinand talked up comparisons with Marcus Rashford after Dibling gave Dalot nightmares at St Mary’s. Arguably no player has tortured the full-back quite like this since Arnaut Danjuma for Villarreal back in 2021.
Erik ten Hag was delighted as Manchester United defeated Southampton 3-0 on the South Coast. But that only came after a torturous start and a few very lucky escapes.
Dibling forced the in-form Andre Onana into an excellent early save, before the England Under 19 international then breezed past Dalot to earn a penalty.
A spot-kick the Cameroon international – Onana was labelled Man United’s difference-maker by Mattijs de Ligt at full-time – would heroically keep out.
Rashford, of course, exploded onto the scene in a manner not too dissimilar to Dibling during the Louis van Gaal era at Man United.
And with Ineos determined to make Old Trafford fertile breeding ground for the next generation of footballing A-listers once more, Dibling may fit in nicely at a side who have already spent heavily on Leny Yoro while raiding Crystal Palace and Arsenal for Samuel Lusale, Hubert Graczyk Chido Obi-Martin.
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