Dalot: 'Ronaldo taught me to be disciplined'

Dalot returned to Man Utd in the summer of 2021 after an apprenticeship in Milan, at the same time Ronaldo reunited with Man Utd. The 24-year-old defender got better and better and was extended by Man Utd until the summer of 2028, and he thinks Ronaldo is his motivation. "Ronaldo helps me a lot off the pitch," he said. "I'm happy to play with him."

Dalot did not specify how Ronaldo helped him. "Basically, Ronaldo's discipline helps me the most," added the Portuguese defender. "Looking at Ronaldo's will to train, I learned a lesson about consistency, which is to always train persistently and with discipline every day."

Ronaldo also once considered Dalot as a rare young player with high determination in training sessions at Man Utd, in an interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022. Also in this conversation, Ronaldo said he was betrayed by coach Erik ten Hag, and slandered the legends of the team. That interview led to Ronaldo being terminated early, and transferred to Al Nassr to play football in Saudi Arabia.

Man Utd showed signs of improvement after Ronaldo left, and won the English League Cup last season, but Dalot wants the team to do more. "Last season showed that Man Utd can do better, and we have to aim to win the Premier League," he said. "We are full of energy taking the level to the next level."

Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bisaka will compete for the right-back position at Man Utd next season, but the Portuguese can also play on the left wing to backup Luke Shaw. The 24-year-old defender is also impressed with the leadership spirit of Bruno Fernandes, and thinks that the compatriot midfielder deserves to wear the Man Utd captain's armband. "Having a captain like Fernandes gives us more confidence," he said.

Man Utd is spending the last days of training in the US, and they will play a friendly against Dortmund on the evening of July 30, before returning to England.