Rio Ferdinand rejects Patrick Dorgu comparison with ‘underrated’ Man Utd cult hero who was ‘ridiculous specimen’
Rio Ferdinand has said that Patrick Dorgu has shades of one Manchester United legend after batting away a comparison made around one former teammate.
Patrick Dorgu arrived at Old Trafford back in the January transfer window after the Red Devils signed the Danish wing-back from Serie A side Lecce.
Ruben Amorim on Patrick Dorgu
“You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel the anxiety.”
Ruben Amorim
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The 21-year-old Denmark international cost Manchester United an initial transfer fee of £25m in February, with a further £4.1m agreed in add-ons with Lecce.
Dorgu has been Ruben Amorim’s preferred choice at the left wing-back role and the former Lecce defender has been inconsistent in the early period of his spell at United.
The Denmark wing-back is built for Ruben Amorim’s tactical system at United, but Dorgu has underwhelmed at times when it comes to his attacking output.
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Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Rio Ferdinand asked about Patrick Dorgu and former Man Utd star Antonio Valencia
Ruben Amorim singled out Patrick Dorgu recently and the Manchester United manager couldn’t be clearer about his feelings around the Danish defender.
The 40-year-old former Sporting CP head coach even suggested that Dorgu causes him “anxiety” every time that he touches the ball and wants to see more from him.
Rio Ferdinand played alongside Antonio Valencia at Old Trafford and the ex-TNT Sports pundit’s former United teammate underwent a position change in his career.
Antonio Valencia was deployed as a right winger during the Sir Alex Ferguson era at the club before the 40-year-old Ecuadorian was later transformed into a right-back.
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Ferdinand was asked if there were any similarities between Valencia and Dorgu and the 47-year-old United legend shut down the comparisons between the pair.
“Antonio, I think [was] one of the most underrated players I played with, he was a ridiculous specimen,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
“His understanding of the game was far beyond anyone [was] giving him credit for.
“Intelligence. And his will to win, his will to beat players and to be effective.
“You wanted him in your team. You want that on your team rather than against you all the time. He was a top player, top professional as well.
“Great lad. So, I understand what you’re saying. I don’t think the styles [match].”
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Rio Ferdinand makes an eye-opening Patrice Evra claim after ruling out the Patrick Dorgu and Antonio Valencia comparison
Following on from his Antonio Valencia remarks, Ferdinand suggested that former United teammate Patrice Evra was a better comparison to make with Dorgu.
“I could think of another player who I probably might match him [Dorgu] up with more, which would be Patrice Evra, especially a young Patrice Evra,” he continued.
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Speaking on United legend Patrice Evra, Ferdinand added: “I think between the boxes in our generation, I think Patrice was probably the best [in] getting from one part of the pitch to the other between the boxes.”
Evra arrived at Old Trafford under legendary former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2006 after he was signed from French side Monaco.
The former Juventus and Marseille defender was a key left-back during his time at United and lifted five Premier League and a Champions League with the Red Devils.
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