Manchester United demanded on having Patrick Dorgu available for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign during transfer negotiations with Lecce, according to the Italian club's president Saverio Sticchi Damiani.
The 20-year-old represented the Red Devils' marquee addition of the winter window, joining on an initial five-year contract - with an option for 2031 - for a £25m fee.
Dorgu was presented to the Old Trafford crowd in the weekend's 2-0 Premier League loss to Crystal Palace, and he could now make his debut for Man United when the 20-time English champions face Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday.
While Lecce accepted that the pull of the Red Devils would eventually be too strong for Dorgu to ignore, they were hopeful of retaining the Denmark international's services for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, potentially on loan.
However, speaking to journalists in a press conference - as quoted by the Manchester Evening News - club president Damiani revealed that the "extraordinary" move went through in January due to a firm ultimatum issued by the Red Devils.
Man United 'threatened to call off Dorgu pursuit'
© Imago
Man United insisted that the 2004-born prospect was to join them in January or risk the transfer collapsing entirely, according to Damiani, who said: "It's an extraordinary operation in every sense. It's our richest sale ever, and it arrives at a moment where we are in very good shape economically.
"We said multiple times that Dorgu wouldn't leave in January, but then it happened because of an ultimatum by Manchester United. When they first approached us, we said we didn't want to sell him now.
"We didn't set a price or ask to raise their offer. We thought that our answer would halt their pursuit, but it had the opposite effect. The Red Devils insisted. We asked a few times to postpone everything to the summer, promising him that he wouldn't miss out on this opportunity.
"It was a historical step for us, but we wanted to do it in July. Instead, the English side relayed their desire to sign him immediately, as their coach [Ruben Amorim] requested. Their message was that the deal would either come together now or collapse. They told the player too.
"We can't judge Dorgu, as he's 20, and Manchester United came forward with a big proposal. All those factors led us to believe that we would have gone from being coherent to stupidly stubborn [by not letting him go]."
What role will Dorgu play for Man United?
© Imago
The left-footed Dorgu has dabbled in wing-back, winger and full-back duties during the embryonic stage of his career, and during the first half of the season at Lecce, he bombed down both the right and left flank.
Dorgu tended to operate further up the field when on the right-hand side - where he scored his three goals from earlier this season - but when on the left, he often dropped into a more defensive position.
The Denmark international is expected to occupy such a role for the Red Devils, who allowed Tyrell Malacia to join PSV Eindhoven on loan earlier this month, while Luke Shaw is yet to return from his latest injury setback.
Dorgu - who is left-footed - would allow Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot to shift across to their preferred right-hand side should he occupy the left flank, although the former could also be required in central defence.
Man United confirmed earlier on Thursday that Lisandro Martinez had suffered ACL damage during their loss to Palace at the weekend, an issue that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
Ben Knapton
