Manchester United aggressively pushed through Patrick Dorgu’s transfer from Lecce in the January window, issuing a firm ultimatum to both the player and the Serie A club.
The Premier League giants secured a €35 million (£29.2m) deal for the 20-year-old wing-back, making him the first signing under Ruben Amorim. Napoli had also been in the race but ultimately lost out, with their sporting director, Giovanni Manna, later claiming that United overpaid for Dorgu.
Lecce’s president, Saverio Sticchi Damiani, admitted the club had no initial plans to sell Dorgu mid-season but were pressured by United’s persistence. He revealed that despite repeatedly rejecting offers, the Red Devils refused to back down.
“It is our record transfer and comes at a time of financial stability for us,” Damiani said. “This was not a sale made out of necessity. We were clear that Dorgu was not for sale in January. But instead of discouraging United, it had the opposite effect. They pushed harder, making their stance clear to both us and the player.”
Lecce attempted to delay the transfer until summer, even assuring Dorgu that his chance would still come. However, United refused to wait.
“They gave us an ultimatum—‘now or never,’” Damiani explained. “That message was also relayed to the player. And at 20 years old, when Manchester United comes calling with an offer like that, it’s hard to say no. Eventually, we realized that sticking to our stance was no longer an option.”
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