Dalot’s Dream Five-a-Side: Rashford Out, £58m Flop In?
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has unveiled his ultimate five-a-side team, a selection that has raised a few eyebrows, notably by omitting long-time teammate Marcus Rashford. Instead, Dalot has opted for a surprise inclusion: a player who, despite a hefty price tag, didn’t quite live up to expectations at Old Trafford.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Dalot was tasked with building his dream five-a-side squad from players he’s either shared a dressing room with or faced on the pitch. The absence of Rashford, who has been a United player for seven years and is currently on loan at Barcelona, was a significant talking point.
However, Dalot did find a place for former United forward Anthony Martial, a player he believes possessed astonishing talent, particularly in training.
“It would be Chris (Ronaldo),” Dalot stated, confirming the inclusion of the legendary Portuguese forward. “And I’m going to put one more up front. I’m going to say Martial.”
This choice clearly surprised Rio Ferdinand. “Martial? I did not expect that,” Ferdinand remarked. “I know he’s got huge talent, but I didn’t… why Martial?”
Dalot elaborated on his reasoning, highlighting Martial’s extraordinary ability in training sessions.
“I’m going to say it because I’m going to combine what, obviously, he could do in games, but in training,” the Portuguese right-back explained. “And I played a lot against him, so it was really, really tough to play. And he was one of those that, if he had obviously a bit more consistency, sometimes he would disconnect a little bit from everything. But if he wanted, he could be the best player in the world. Easily.”
Ferdinand then recalled a conversation with Michael Carrick, who was interim manager at United, about Martial. “You know, Carrick said to me when he first signed that Martial could win the Ballon d’Or,” Ferdinand shared.
Dalot continued to paint a picture of Martial’s training ground magic. “In training, he could do things that you’d say you had to stop training. You know, those moments where you say… you want to blow the whistle and say, “Okay, let’s go inside.” And I had a few. I remember Juan Mata also had those things of quality.”
Martial joined Manchester United from Monaco in 2015 with immense fanfare, costing a reported £58 million. While he showcased flashes of brilliance, scoring 63 goals in 209 appearances, he ultimately failed to consistently deliver on his vast potential. His time at the club saw him loaned out to Sevilla before making a permanent move to AEK Athens in 2024. The 30-year-old now plies his trade in Mexico with Monterrey.
Given Rashford’s exclusion, Ferdinand naturally probed Dalot further on the decision. “Yeah, Rashford also. Rashford also,” Dalot acknowledged. “Rashford could be anything that he wants also. But I put Anthony (in the team) and I don’t put Rashford because, in training, at the top, Anthony was a little bit different. And he could do everything. Yeah, both ways.”
Dalot’s Full Five-a-Side Lineup:
Dalot then proceeded to fill out the rest of his formidable five-a-side team:
Defender: Pepe
Ferdinand expressed his surprise at this choice, noting a stark contrast between Pepe’s on-pitch intensity and his off-pitch demeanour. “Crazy guy. You know what I’ve realised? I was with him at the FIFA World Cup draw, he is a soft, mild-mannered guy outside, off the pitch. Outside. On the pitch, really good.”
Dalot concurred, adding, “The most lovely guy you can meet, and the way he speaks during the table is so humble, you know. But then he goes in, you would change. Even in training, it was… no, it was unbelievable to play with him.”Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba
Dalot opted for a dynamic midfield duo of his current United teammate, Bruno Fernandes, and former United star Paul Pogba. He described Pogba as a truly exceptional talent, transcending the “very good players” category. “Pogba was one of those that… you know when you talk about: “Okay, very good players,” but then there’s what I call the tier one, that’s the… yeah, he was really good. And it was so strange because he was so tall, big feet, you know, and having that… you know, sometimes the most quality players, they have small feet, they’re quick, they’re tiny. He was everything. He was tall, strong, he could do, he could do everything. It was really good to play with him. And then he was very funny, you know. So, the whole package. So I’d say Bruno, Pogba.”When asked about Fernandes’ current standing, Ferdinand queried, “And Bruno, would you say Bruno right now is the best player in the Premier League?”
Dalot responded emphatically, “He’s definitely one of the best players in the league. That’s factual. It’s not like: “Okay, you can give your opinion, you might like it or not” but it’s factual. If you don’t see it, it’s because you just don’t want it.”
Dalot has been a consistent presence for Manchester United this season, accumulating 163 appearances for the club. His next fixture sees the Portuguese defender prepare for a challenging away match against Everton on Monday night.
