Arsenal legend Paul Merson has voiced his skepticism over Manchester United’s imminent signing of Patrick Dorgu, questioning why Italy’s top clubs have not aggressively pursued the highly-rated Lecce wing-back.
United are expected to announce Dorgu’s signing in the coming days, making him Ruben Amorim’s first acquisition at Old Trafford. However, Merson finds it strange that Italian powerhouses like Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli have not fiercely competed for the 20-year-old.
“When someone does well in Italy, I always ask: If Inter, Juventus, Napoli, and AC Milan are not after him, why is that?” Merson questioned on Sky Sports News.
Although Napoli has been linked with Dorgu, Merson remains unconvinced, drawing parallels to Rasmus Højlund, who arrived at United from Atalanta in a £64 million deal but has struggled to justify his hefty price tag.
“Højlund came for a lot of money, but the big Italian clubs didn’t chase him. Now, he’s struggling, and they probably knew he was too young at the time,” Merson added.
With Manchester United investing in yet another young prospect, questions linger over whether Dorgu will live up to expectations or follow the path of past high-profile transfers that failed to deliver immediate impact.
