“He has been proving his worth” - Manchester United star Diogo Dalot lavishes praise on Chelsea defender
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has hailed his Chelsea counterpart Renato Veiga after his impressive debut for the Portuguese national team. The versatile youngster made his debut for the Selecao in their 3-1 win over Poland in the UEFA Nations League on October 13.
After being linked with Riccardo Calafiori in the summer, Chelsea took a detour and went instead to Switzerland, where they signed Veiga from Basel. They reportedly spent £12 million on the 21-year-old former Sporting Lisbon U-21 captain, and he has proven his worth to the club since then.
Veiga received a first international call-up in September, but did not see any minutes on the pitch. This month, the youngster started at centre-back in their first game against Robert Lewandowski and his Poland team. He made 57 accurate passes, including a couple of passes in the final third.
Manchester United man Diogo Dalot featured in the game, and he spoke with A Bola about how the youngster had impressed him.
“We had the opportunity to congratulate them at the end of the game. It’s not easy, in an away game, against a strong team. The maturity with which they debuted… Renato Veiga had an excellent game, he has been proving his worth. As a collective, we help each other a lot.”
Renato Veiga has been used at Chelsea by Enzo Maresca in a number of positions since the start of the campaign. The former Basel man has played in central midfield and at left-back for the Blues, and his Portugal debut came at centre-back.
Veiga is set to make his second start in the Premier League at Anfield after the international break when his side face Liverpool on October 20. With Marc Cucurella suspended, the 21-year-old will get a chance to test himself against elite opposition in the game.
Chelsea, Manchester United in mix for highly-rated Brazil defender - Reports
Chelsea and Manchester United are among the clubs linked with talented Brazilian defender Vitor Reis, who is on the books of Palmeiras. ESPN Brasil has linked the teenager with both clubs as he is attracting interest from Europe.
Reis has come through the Palmeiras academy, and at 18, is one of the key players for the side in defence. In recognition of his immense talent, the Brazilian club have handed him a contract until 2028 with a release clause of around £84 million.
Vitor Reis is on the radar of Chelsea, who are keen to continue their quest to sign the finest talents from South America. Manchester United are looking to replace the ageing legs in their backline such as Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, and have already signed one 18-year-old in Leny Yoro.
Reis is also wanted by Real Madrid, Liverpool, and PSG, and is expected to surely leave Brazil in the near future. The 18-year-old has made 11 league appearances for his club this season and is keen to play for Europe's top sides.