Manchester United left Lecce with little choice but to part ways with Patrick Dorgu in January, as club president Saverio Sticchi Damiani detailed how the Premier League giants issued a decisive ultimatum to force the move.
United secured the 20-year-old wing-back for €35 million (£29.2m) in the final week of the transfer window, marking the first signing of Ruben Amorim’s tenure. Napoli had also been interested, but their sporting director, Giovanni Manna, suggested that United paid over the market value to complete the deal.
Lecce had no plans to sell Dorgu mid-season, with Damiani emphasizing that the club was in a strong financial position and not looking to cash in. “We repeatedly told United and Dorgu’s representatives that he would not leave in January,” he explained. “We didn’t even negotiate for a higher offer. But rather than deter United, our stance only made them more persistent.”
The Italian club attempted to delay the move until summer, assuring Dorgu he wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity. However, United refused to wait, making it clear that it was a “now or never” decision. This pressure was applied not just to Lecce but also directly to Dorgu himself, leaving the player with a tough call.
“When Manchester United presents an offer like that, how can a 20-year-old say no?” Damiani admitted. “At some point, we had to accept reality. Holding firm would have been less about consistency and more about being stubborn to the point of foolishness.”