Dan still to prove he’s the man at Etihad
THERE was no surprise when Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and Ederson were named in Brazil’s squad for the World Cup in Russia, but Danilo was less clear-cut.
The defender, brought to City last summer with the promise that he could play right-back, left-back and as a defensive midfielder, has had a middling first season at the Etihad.
Kyle Walker established himself as the first choice right-back, Fabian Delph and Aleks Zinchenko were both given opportunities on the left in Benjamin Mendy’s absence, and Ilkay Gundogan tended to be the deputy on the rare occasion Fernandinho missed a game.
There have been reports this season of Danilo’s frustration at his limited game time and the 26-yearold’s omission from the Brazil squad in March left a question mark over his inclusion at the World Cup.
However, he started three of the five City games since they won the title to take him to 25 starts for the season and 38 appearances.
That, together with Dani Alves’s unfortunate injury, has ensured the right-back has been confirmed in the Brazil squad for the summer tournament.
With City having allowed young defender Pablo Maffeo to join Stuttgart, Danilo’s World Cup spot makes it more likely the Brazilian will be content in Manchester for another year.
That will give Guardiola three natural full-backs (plus Delph and Zinchenko) before he even starts his summer business, dropping the position down his list.