Man Utd Sign Dorgu from Lecce

Football - Serie A - Lecce v Inter Milan - Stadio Via del mare, Lecce, Italy - January 26, 2025 Lecce's Patrick Dorgu reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Serie A - Lecce v Inter Milan - Stadio Via del mare, Lecce, Italy - January 26, 2025 Lecce's Patrick Dorgu reacts. (Reuters)
TT

Man Utd Sign Dorgu from Lecce

Football - Serie A - Lecce v Inter Milan - Stadio Via del mare, Lecce, Italy - January 26, 2025 Lecce's Patrick Dorgu reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Serie A - Lecce v Inter Milan - Stadio Via del mare, Lecce, Italy - January 26, 2025 Lecce's Patrick Dorgu reacts. (Reuters)

Manchester United completed the signing of Danish defender Patrick Dorgu from Lecce on Sunday for a reported initial fee of £25 million ($37 million).

The 20-year-old has impressed in Serie A over the past two seasons, scoring five goals in 53 appearances in the Italian top flight, and has four caps for his country.

Dorgu is United's first signing of the Ruben Amorim era and should solve a lack of options down the left side for the Portuguese coach.

"I am incredibly proud to be able to call myself a Manchester United player; this is a very special day for my whole family," Dorgu said in a club statement.

“I cannot wait to work with Ruben Amorim; his vision for this team and the future of the club is incredibly exciting.

"There is a clear plan set out for my development, and I feel that Manchester United is the perfect place to fulfil my potential and complete my huge ambitions."

United's ability to back Amorim has been hampered by a need to meet profit and sustainability rules.

But the club's technical director Jason Wilcox is confident Dorgu is perfectly suited for Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation.

"Patrick is a really exciting talent; his strong defensive and attacking attributes, adaptability and work-rate will make him a key part of Ruben Amorim’s squad," said Wilcox.

"At the age of just 20, we know he will continue to develop under the guidance of our excellent coaching team."

United are hopeful of raising funds in the final hours of the transfer window, which shuts on Monday.

Marcus Rashford is reportedly on the verge of a loan move to Aston Villa, which will free up the majority of his reported £300,000-a-week wages.

Alejandro Garnacho has also been linked with Napoli but is unlikely to leave before Monday.



Spurs Midfielder Maddison Silences Critics with Winner Against Man United 

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
TT

Spurs Midfielder Maddison Silences Critics with Winner Against Man United 

Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - February 16, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur's James Maddison celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

James Maddison delivered the perfect riposte to his doubters by scoring the winning goal against Manchester United after the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder had come in for some stinging criticism in the lead-up to Sunday's Premier League match.

Making his first start since suffering a calf injury in December, Maddison tapped in a rebound from close range to give his side a 1-0 win in London, celebrating his goal with a shushing gesture.

Earlier in the week, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane had said anyone who thought Maddison's return to the side would help Spurs break into the top six was living in "cuckoo land."

"He got relegated with Leicester and he'll get relegated with Spurs," Keane said on "The Overlap" podcast.

"There was a little bit of outside noise this week," Maddison, who joined Spurs from Leicester City in 2023, told Sky Sports.

"People will have their opinions, but I wanted to do my talking on the pitch. I hope there is a certain few that enjoyed me being the match-winner today.

"Nobody is more critical of myself than me," he added.

"To be fair to the gaffer, he always talks about blocking out the outside noise, but sometimes it's difficult, you know. It's constantly in your face, social media and WhatsApp."

Despite the win Spurs remain in the bottom half of the table, sitting in 12th spot on 30 points after 25 games. They visit Ipswich Town on Saturday.