Manchester United have spent the summer working to improve the squad. One important addition had already been made.
Ruben Amorim was appointed at Manchester United in November 2024, and had to quickly adjust to life managing in the Premier League.
He inherited a talented squad yet a flawed one, totally unsuited to playing his style of football. And for most of the season it showed.
Amorim has had to be patient for summer 2025 to reshape his squad, however, he was able to make a couple of minor tweaks in the January window.
The club spent £25 million to sign Patrick Dorgu from Lecce, with young talent Ayden Heaven also arriving from Arsenal.
Patrick Dorgu ready to make greater impact
Patrick Dorgu sealed his move to Manchester United at the end of January, and similar to Ruben Amorim in the dugout, he also had to adjust from a foreign league.
It’s probably fair to say Dorgu’s performances did not blow anybody away in his first few months, but he was perfectly fine; solid without being spectacular.
Dorgu came in to play a specific role in Amorim’s system, at left wing-back, and he has been a reliable performer. Now in pre-season, he is taking his game to a new level.
With his adjustment period already under his belt, along with a short break, Dorgu is ready to kick on in 2025/26.
The early signs are positive, with Dorgu looking lively in pre-season and scoring his first goal for the club in the win over Bournemouth.
Dorgu’s zip and ability on the ball was a standout feature of United’s win. He is making the left side of the pitch his own, despite youngster Diego Leon also showing promise.
It is easy to forget Dorgu is still only 20-years-old and could still be playing academy football. He is developing quickly into a star.
United recognised they were buying a prospect when Dorgu was signed, one who has some learning to do, and the early signs are that the player is quickly adjusting.
There is a lot of football to be played in 2025/26, and that is when he will be truly judged, but the initial signs for next season are promising.
While United have subsequently paid out big money for attacking stars Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, the 4-1 win over Bournemouth was achieved without them.
Dorgu was the star, and his £25 million signing could become the pick of the bunch from United’s 2025 deals when the calendar year comes to a close.
Ruben Amorim raved about Patrick Dorgu
Ruben Amorim talked up how impressed he was with Patrick Dorgu following the friendly win in Chicago.
He told MUTV: “It’s impressive. He’s 20-years-old. He looks more and more like he belongs in Manchester United, and that is hard to do it [at] 220-years-old, but he’s so powerful, he’s getting his technique in his game.
“He’s defending so well, he’s pressing so well. So I’m really impressed with Patrick.”
The foundation is there now for Dorgu to kick on. He has begun to show what he is capable of, and now he just needs to do it consistently.
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