When Ruben Amorim bought a 20-year-old left wingback from Serie A club Lecce in 2025, fans were excited about what the first signing under new leadership could potentially offer to the squad with his speed and stamina. His first season at wingback was promising, but it was obvious that Patrick Dorgu still had plenty of room to improve.
In the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, Dorgu’s confidence levels rose after assisting Matheus Cunha’s finesse finish from the left wingback position, earning an 8.2 Fotmob
match rating.
But his defensive struggles prompted Amorim to try something new, and on Boxing Day, one year after former Wolves man Matheus Cunha’s Olimpico sealed Wolves’ win over United, Amorim placed Dorgu in the starting lineup—but this time as an attacking winger. Dorgu’s stunning volley from distance helped United seal the 1-0 win over Newcastle United and earned him an 8.4 Fotmob match rating from the right wing.
Amorim liked what he saw and sensed his attacking potential, which prompted him to keep Dorgu at the right wing in the 1-1 draws against Wolves and Leeds, but the heavily left-footed Dane couldn’t work his magic from the right, as he did against Newcastle.
After Amorim’s sacking, United ditched the 3-4-2-1 formation and no longer played with wingbacks—the exact position Dorgu was bought to fill in for. Dorgu knew he either had to up his defensive game or develop a knack for scoring goals from an attacking wing position. He chose option two.
Interim head coach Darren Fletcher tested him out on the left wing in the 2-2 draw against Burnley, where his low driven cross from the left flank was finished home by Benjamin Sesko. Dorgu earned an 8.7 Fotmob match rating, raising eyebrows all throughout England.
When Michael Carrick took charge, Dorgu’s ability on the left wing was put to the test against Manchester City. Dorgu passed the test, sneaking through City’s defense to get a left-foot touch on the end of Cunha’s cross to stretch United’s lead to two and seal the victory. Dorgu earned a Fotmob rating of 8.5.
Carrick picked the exact same starting XI against Arsenal at the Emirates, and Dorgu rewarded him by smashing a left-footed volley from outside of the box off the crossbar and in to give United the lead. But just as he was hitting a spectacular run of form, blazing with confidence, he picked up a hamstring injury just a few minutes later, and was forced to watch his team from the bench for 3 months while he recovered.
He returned from injury in April, but Carrick didn’t force him back into the squad. Dorgu played 15 minutes against Liverpool, 25 minutes against Sunderland and 10 minutes against Nottingham Forest.
With his fitness and sharpness levels back to normal, Carrick gave Dorgu a start on the left wing in the last game of the season against Brighton. He got on the end of a corner kick with a header to help Bruno Fernandes break the single-season Premier League assist record.
On top of that, Dorgu provided a perfectly weighted pass to Bruno on the right corner of the box that was rifled past Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen. Dorgu’s one-assist, one-goal game earned him an 8.5 Fotmob match rating before being subbed off in the 62nd minute.
In the 26 matches he played this season (15 starts), he scored four goals, tallied four assists, and recorded 12 shots on target from 26 attempts. He even won Premier League Player of the Matchweek twice. His market value at the start of the season sat around $35 million, but it only took a couple of standout performances for his value to skyrocket up to around $53 million.
Given Dorgu’s production in the final third, combined with his lack of defensive contributions, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Carrick converts him to a full-time winger instead of fullback next season—especially with Luke Shaw occupying the left back position. Matheus Cunha, who normally starts on the left flank, tends to play more centrally. Dorgu could provide width from the left and a goalscoring threat when Carrick looks to rotate the squad. If United don’t buy a backup striker this summer, Carrick could even pick Dorgu to start on the left while Cunha rotates up top with Sesko.
It’s uncertain who Michael Carrick will pick to fill the left wing position next season, but he’s got a pretty good option in Patrick Dorgu—who could be in for an even bigger breakout campaign if he’s given minutes and stays healthy.
