‘Glitch in the matrix’ – can Dorgu solve Man Utd’s problem?
With the first signings of the Ruben Amorim era, Manchester United have addressed arguably their biggest problem position.
After bringing in 18-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven from Arsenal on Saturday, United have now completed the signing of Danish full-back Patrick Dorgu from Serie A strugglers Lecce.
Dorgu has cost an initial €30m (£25m) fee, with a possible further €5m (£4.1m) in add-ons.
The 20-year-old is expected to fill เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา the left wing-back spot in Amorim’s side, a position the Portuguese coach has so far had to find makeshift solutions for.
The left side of defence was a problem at Old Trafford long before Amorim arrived with his back-five system, so the club’s hierarchy will hope they have finally found the answer.
Heaven has gone into the first-team squad but may have to bide his time before his big chance; however, Dorgu looks to be one for now.
But who exactly is Dorgu, and why did United decide he was the best option?
‘Nobody was queuing up for him’
Dorgu’s story began with local youth football in his home city of Copenhagen, as well as playing with his siblings. One of his brothers is an attacker for Genoa’s under-20 team, while the other is a goalkeeper in Denmark’s lower leagues.
At 12 years old he was scouted by Danish Superliga side Nordsjaelland, a club – owned by the Right To Dream academy in Ghana – renowned for producing promising young talents. Brighton’s Simon Adingra and Brentford duo Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard are among the academy’s alumni.
Nordsjaelland are specialists at developing youngsters, with the best of the best spending a season or two with the first team before moving on.
Yet in 2022, newly promoted Serie A side Lecce paid about €200,000 (£167,000) to sign the then 17-year-old Dorgu before he had made a single senior appearance.
“He’s sort of a glitch in the matrix,” Karsten Krogh, Serie A journalist at Danish podcast Mediano.
“He never really did that well as a youth player in Denmark, he was never a star anywhere. It wasn’t like the other teams in Denmark were lining up to get his signature.”
After helping Lecce win the Italian under-19 title in his first season, the club’s then-first team manager Roberto d’Aversa fast-tracked Dorgu into his squad.
“He’s growing a lot and I see a bright future for him,” D’Aversa said at the time.
“In football there are no ages, there are strong players and less strong ones. He is one of the strong players.”