“Source of pride”: Club president opens up on former player’s move to United

Manchester United shifted to the 3-4-3 system following Ruben Amorim’s arrival in November last year. The set-up relies heavily on marauding full-backs, and in his first game against Ipswich Town, the Portuguese head coach deployed Diogo Dalot and Amad Diallo in the positions. It was soon clear that while the Ivorian excelled in his new role, the left wing-back position posed a problem. Amorim deployed Dalot, Tyrell Malacia and Noussair Mazraoui to mixed effect in the position before turning to the market in the winter transfer window. The Red Devils zeroed in on Patrick Dorgu in January and signed him from Lecce in a reported €30 million deal, with a further €5 million in add-ons, to address the position. A dip in form this season Dorgu enjoyed a decent first six months, displaying qualities that had prompted United to invest a sizeable sum in his signature. The Dane finished the campaign with one assist in 20 appearances across competitions, and even started the Europa League final, which his team lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Nevertheless, the signs were promising, and with the Red Devils investing wisely in the squad over the summer, Dorgu was expected to reach a higher level this season. Unfortunately, the 21 year old has endured a dip in form and has even lost his place to Dalot in recent times. This season, Dorgu has managed one assist in 15 appearances, eight of which have been starts. Patrick Dorgu Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League14–14–711′ EFL Cup1––––45′ Total15–14–756′ Source: Transfermarkt. Despite his recent struggles at the Theatre of Dreams, Dorgu has impressed with the national team in recent outings, even earning praise from manager Brian Riemer. Lecce President Saverio Sticchi Damiani has now shed light on the details of the youngster’s move to the English giants. Lecce proud of Dorgu deal Speaking to Tuttomercatoweb, Damiani named Dorgu’s sale as the transfer business he was most proud of in his eight-year tenure. He said: “Umtiti was an extraordinary operation, a world champion who gave a lot to our club, but that of Dorgu represents the Lecce model 360°.” “Taken from the youth sector of a Danish team, he spent a year in the Primavera and half a season in Serie A, and then was sold to Manchester United for 38 million.” “It is a symbol of the quality of our club. And doing business with Manchester United is an additional source of pride.” United have been linked with Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco earlier this year as an option to strengthen the position. However, a recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that the Italian has no desire to leave the Nerazzurri. Final Thoughts Dorgu’s dip in form has hurt United this season, with Dalot faring no better in the position. As such, the Red Devils could be tempted to reinforce the area in 2026 should the right player become available. Alternatively, the Premier League giants could also put their trust in Harry Amass next season, with the Englishman showing great promise on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. 🚨⚠️ Amorim: “Dorgu… you can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel the anxiety”. “He needs to be calmer. With Denmar, he scored a great goal. The decision he made under pressure was completely different to the decision he is making in our team”. pic.twitter.com/UYMKChRuAW — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 29, 2025 Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.