Diogo Dalot calf injury could end Manchester United season

Manchester United fear Diogo Dalot's calf injury may sideline him for the remainder of the campaign.

Diogo Dalot of Manchester United pictured during the Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, on April 20, 2025. Photo by James Gill/Danehouse

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Manchester United’s hopes of finishing the season on a positive note have taken another hit with news that Diogo Dalot may miss the remainder of the campaign due to a calf injury. Head coach Ruben Amorim confirmed the setback during his press conference ahead of the club’s Premier League fixture against Bournemouth, casting doubt over Dalot’s availability for both domestic and European fixtures.

The Portuguese defender, who has been a mainstay in United’s starting lineup throughout the season, was only used as a substitute in last weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves. Amorim had opted to rest the 26-year-old in anticipation of a grueling run of fixtures, but those plans have now been thrown into disarray.

"Diogo Dalot is out. He has something in his muscle, in his calf," Amorim told reporters. "He’s out for these next games."

The full extent of the Diogo Dalot calf injury remains unclear, but Amorim did not rule out the possibility that the defender could be absent for the rest of the season. While there is still hope he could return before the campaign ends, the manager admitted the medical staff would have to assess the situation week by week.

"There is that possibility, but I don't know," Amorim said. "We'll check week by week because he works really hard, he can recover quite well. He had a sequence of games that he played all the time. We tried to manage but some of the players have to play a lot of minutes."

A season plagued by setbacks

Dalot’s injury adds to Manchester United’s mounting list of problems. The club currently sits in 14th place in the Premier League, and despite reaching the Europa League semi-finals, the domestic campaign has been nothing short of a disaster.

Dalot has made 51 appearances in all competitions this season, missing just one game through suspension. His reliability and consistency have made him one of the few bright spots in a troubled campaign, and losing him now could seriously hinder United’s hopes of salvaging their season with silverware.

Next week, United face Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals—a competition that could be their only route back into Europe next season. But with their best full-back sidelined, Amorim may need to reshuffle his backline at a critical juncture.

A defining end to the season

Ruben Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag in November, is facing the prospect of delivering Manchester United’s worst league finish since their relegation from the top flight in 1973–74. The club has already recorded its lowest-ever Premier League points tally since the competition’s inception in 1992.

The manager is aware of the magnitude of the situation and acknowledged that significant changes will be needed in the upcoming transfer window.

Asked whether he had already identified players to offload in the summer, Amorim responded: “Yeah, I could say that. Of course this is a conversation for the end of the week, but I have an idea that is clear because we have to do things early. But things can change until the end of the season.”

That sentiment reflects the uncertainty hanging over the squad, with injuries, underperformance, and a lack of consistency undermining United’s campaign.

Transfer speculation and planning

Despite the turbulence, Amorim remains focused on the short-term goals, particularly the importance of the Europa League. He refused to be drawn into discussions about potential signings, including speculation linking Wolves forward Matheus Cunha with a move to Old Trafford.

"I will not say nothing about Matheus because if I say one time I will have to say for any situation whether that it's yes or no, so I will not comment about that," Amorim said.

While Manchester United’s European hopes hinge on lifting the Europa League trophy, Amorim remains confident that the club’s stature still appeals to top players—regardless of whether they qualify for continental competition.

"It's Manchester United," he said. "What I feel is that there's a lot of players that want to play for our club. I know that if you look at our club in the moment it looks like sometimes with all the problems with the staff, people going, changing coach, the results, it looks a little bit of a problem in the moment.

"But we have a clear idea and that is the easiest part to explain for a player. And then every player wants to play for Manchester United."

Dalot’s absence exposes deeper squad issues

The Diogo Dalot calf injury has also exposed the lack of depth in United’s defense. With Luke Shaw still recovering and Tyrell Malacia struggling to regain full fitness, the full-back positions have become a major area of concern.

Dalot’s versatility—able to play both right and left-back—has been crucial for United this season. Without him, Amorim may need to rely on inexperienced options or repurpose central defenders to fill the gaps.

The defensive issues have been compounded by a midfield that lacks control and cohesion, and an attack that remains inconsistent despite its talent on paper. As the season reaches its climax, Amorim faces a delicate balancing act between pushing for silverware and preparing for a summer of restructuring.

Looking ahead with uncertainty

Whether or not Dalot returns before the end of the season, the broader challenges facing Manchester United cannot be ignored. A single player’s injury, while significant, is just one piece of a much larger puzzle that the club must solve quickly.

If United manage to win the Europa League, it could paper over the cracks—at least temporarily. But failure to lift the trophy could spark one of the most comprehensive rebuilds in the club’s recent history.

Amorim’s ability to steady the ship in the final weeks of the season, despite the Dalot muscle injury and other setbacks, will likely determine whether he remains in charge for the long haul or becomes yet another casualty in the post-Ferguson era of instability at Old Trafford.

With just weeks left in the season, Manchester United must rally quickly, starting with their upcoming trip to Bournemouth—without Dalot, and with little room for further error.