Lecce publicly confirm Manchester United negotiations for Patrick Dorgu – Explain their current stance

Manchester United today held negotiations in Milan with Lecce regarding a move for Patrick Dorgu. The Premier League club are making attempts to sign the Lecce player, and the Red Devils offer was said to stand at around €30m plus a potential €5m in bonus payments.

At the meeting were Matt Hargreaves, representing Manchester United, CAA Base agency’s Leon Angel and Frank Trimboli, and Udinese president Sticchi Damiani, who was accompanied by a director from the Serie A club.

Damiani has ow spoken to Sky Italia about what happened during Tuesday’s Milan meeting and how he sees things on Patrick Dorgu’s situation at this moment in time.

Gianluca Di Marzio’s website quotes him as saying: “The meeting went well, it was a cordial meeting. For us it is a satisfaction to sit at the table with Manchester United and talk about a player who comes from our Primavera. It means that it is a significant growth path for the club and we are very happy about it.”

That sounds pretty positive but the Lecce chief then explained his club’s aim is to keep Dorgu until the end of the current season: “We have explained to Manchester that our desire at the moment is to try to keep our squad unchanged, keeping all the big names, especially Dorgu.”

Damiani then explained this is an especially important season for his club as they look save themselves from Serie A relegation for three seasons in a row: “We tried to make it clear that for us it is an important appointment with the history this year. We could reach the third historic salvation. Although we are flattered by the offer from Manchester, for us the priority is the sporting result which is fundamental.”

That sounds like he wants more money, rather than a complete and unwavering not-for-sale stance. Manchester United will now have to decide where to take things from here.