Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are set to compete for Manchester United's right-back spot next season, and both want to stay at the club. For Manchester United, that leaves one of the clearest squad decisions of the summer tied to a position that may not need a new arrival.
Noussair Mazraoui at Old Trafford
Mazraoui has settled enough to be happy in Manchester, even after a stop-start campaign that brought just 11 starts. Between December and January, he missed eight games because of injury, which explains why his season never found a steady rhythm.
That injury spell matters only because it sits alongside the wider selection picture. A player can stay in the squad and still lose momentum when appearances dry up, and Mazraoui's run was broken often enough to leave the right-back discussion unresolved heading into next season. More on the wider World Cup backdrop is available in this look at Mazraoui's World Cup role.
Dalot's Ninth Season
Dalot is heading into his ninth season at Old Trafford, so Manchester United already have a long-running option in the role. The club had been speculated to be looking abroad for another right-back this summer, but the latest stance from both players points the other way.
Sources close to the pair insist neither is looking to leave Manchester United. That leaves the battle inside the squad, not outside it, with the club's summer planning now shaped by whether it keeps the right side intact or adds another name only if the market forces the issue.
Manchester United's Summer Plan
The broader rebuild is already moving elsewhere. Manchester United aim to reinforce defence and midfield this summer, Casemiro left after the expiration of his contract, and Ederson is expected to become the first signing of the window after being called up to replace the injured Wesley.
For the right-back spot, though, the practical question is sharper. If both Dalot and Mazraoui stay, Manchester United can keep the decision in-house and judge the position on fitness, form and competition rather than spend on another right-back before next season begins.
