As Manchester United complete the signing of defender Patrick Dorgu, football writer Ninad Barbadikar looks at the talented 20-year-old's journey from Denmark to England.
Thursday’s 2-0 victory against FCSB in the UEFA Europa League meant that Manchester United, for the first time under new head coach Ruben Amorim, had won back-to-back matches whilst keeping clean sheets.
With the team now looking like they’re finding their feet in the Portuguese tactician’s methods, it’s the perfect time to introduce another piece to the puzzle who will likely slot in seamlessly.
Enter Patrick Dorgu from Serie A side, Lecce. The versatile 20-year-old left-sided Dane will bring useful depth to Amorim’s squad whilst also answering some pressing needs in the wing-back department.
Who is Patrick Dorgu?
Dorgu is a product of the highly regarded academy of FC Nordsjaelland, which counts Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Simon Adingra and Ibrahim Osman as its existing graduates in the Premier League.
Born in Copenhagen to Nigerian parents, Dorgu is surrounded by a family embedded in sport. Brothers Gabriel and Ifenna play football in Denmark and Italy respectively, while his sister plays handball.
Dorgu himself had to jump the developmental ladder when Lecce scouted him in 2022, whilst he was still learning the ropes at Nordsjaelland's academy.
Initially joining the Italian club at the Under-19 level, it wasn’t long before Dorgu would find himself training and playing with the senior team. Dorgu became a senior player by the start of the 2023/24 season and the then first-team boss Roberto D’Aversa identifying his versatility as a huge positive for the team.
What kind of a player is Dorgu?
Dorgu arrives at Man Utd with the reputation of being one of the promising young defenders in Serie A.
A left-footed, left-sided defender who can play any role across the left or even switch over to the right, Dorgu’s ability to slot into a variety of roles is another trait that makes him a desirable player for any squad.
Positions Dorgu has played for Lecce
| Position | Games played |
| Left-back | 24 |
| Right-winger | 11 |
| Left midfielder | 9 |
| Left-winger | 5 |
| Right-back | 3 |
Data: Transfermarkt
The 2023/24 season was the first full season of Dorgu’s career as a professional, as he went on to make 32 appearances in the league, including 17 starts, scoring twice. This season, he has already beaten that figure with three goals and an assist to his name in Serie A.
One of Dorgu’s biggest strengths is ball-carrying and whilst receiving the ball in deeper areas on the pitch, the Dane is able to cover ground thanks to his long and powerful strides, thereby progressing the ball higher up the pitch.
In fact, Dorgu ranked fifth last season amongst Lecce players for average distance covered per ball carry, covering 6.26 metres per carry. The young Dane is 6ft 2in tall and can be difficult to knock off the ball in full stride. This season, he is head and shoulders above his Lecce peers for progressive distance covered whilst carrying, accumulating a total of 1,871 yards.
He also has more shots and chances created, with 17 and 10 respectively, from carries than any other Lecce player this season, underlining what makes him such a threat. Overall, Dorgu’s tally of 36 shots from open play, averaging just under two shots per 90 minutes (1.76), ranks him in the top 35 amongst all Serie A players.
A big part of this is the fact that Dorgu is comfortable with both feet, and this season under Marco Giampaolo he has played more often off the right-flank, meaning he is able to cut inside onto his left boot and get shots or crosses away.
"He can play a lot of positions but we always had an idea that he would become a full-back or a wing-back. He is a good fit for that position," said Alexander Riget speaking to Sky Sports. Riget is currently technical director at Nordsjaelland and the one to scout Dorgu as a 12-year-old.
"With his technical level in small areas, I think it is very difficult to put him under pressure because he is very calm on the ball and very good in tight spaces. He is good at dribbling as well. Moving the ball away from the opponent's feet is a trademark for him."
Where does he fit in at Man Utd?
Dorgu’s versatility across positions means that he likely won’t be tied down to one role under Amorim at United. The 20-year-old’s preference for his left foot means that he might start off as the left wing-back in United’s 3-4-3 shape but depending on the opposition, we could even see Dorgu on Man Utd’s right.
Amorim’s current options for the wing-back roles include Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad.
Attacking stats of Man Utd's wing-back options per 90 minutes
| Player | Crosses | Dribbles attempted | Shots |
| Patrick Dorgu | 1.95 | 2.16 | 1.76 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amad | 1.98 | 4.19 | 2.33 |
| Diogo Dalot | 1.62 | 1.25 | 0.67 |
| Noussair Mazraoui | 0.77 | 1.73 | 0.46 |
Data: The Analyst and Football Reference
Though Dorgu is still raw as a defender, he still compares favourably to Dalot and Mazraoui when it comes to crosses, dribbles and shots - all three of which he will need to do plenty of in Amorim’s system.
Man Utd's potential XI with Dorgu
However, going forward, the Dane shows a keen eye for one-two combinations, showing for the ball in build-up and immediately darting into the space created by the defender. These are some of the things that are most impressive about Dorgu and will be important for Amorim’s United.
Dorgu admitted to Danish outlet Tipsbladet that his childhood idol was former Chelsea star Eden Hazard. Though these days, he counts Alphonso Davies and Theo Hernandez as his most favourite players to watch.
The second signing of the Amorim era brings big excitement to Old Trafford, Dorgu’s addition could be the start of something special.
