Paul Scholes: 'Ruben Amorim's head is fried and confused'

Tom Weber

Updated: 11 Feb 2025 15:18 GMT
3 min read

Ruben Amorim, Man Utd, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Paul Scholes has become the latest Manchester United legend to take aim at Ruben Amorim over his decision to use new signing Patrick Dorgu at right wing-back.

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The Denmark international was signed by the Red Devils to finally solve their problems at left (wing-)back, which became acute last season due to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia suffering long-term injuries.

The issue wasn't solved in the summer and dragged on into January as Shaw repeatedly dealt with setbacks while Malacia struggled to impress after more than a year without football and eventually joined PSV on loan.

Dorgu was signed from Lecce for a sizeable €35 million last month and was expected to slot straight into the left wing-back role in Amorim's system. However, he actually started on the right on his debut against Leicester in the FA Cup and was hauled off after just 45 minutes.

This decision earned Amorim bemusement and criticism, prompting the 40-year-old to point out that Dorgu, though a left-back by trade, had primarily played as a right winger for Lecce earlier in the season.

Scholes: 'Amorim's head is fried'

Amorim's explanation clearly hasn't been enough to placate the critics and another Man Utd legend, Paul Scholes, has now also chimed in on the matter.

"A big concern for me is that we’ve been crying out for a left wing-back," he said on The Overlap. "They buy one and it tells me his head is a little bit fried, it's a little bit confused at the minute because he plays him at right wing-back and keeps [Diogo] Dalot on the left. What’s going on here?"

Ultimately, it all appears to be much ado about nothing. Indeed, as the Manchester Evening News points out, Dorgu is expected to play at left wing-back eventually.

The report also notes that potential summer signing Geovany Quenda can also be used on the left as well as on the right. Interest in the Portuguese wonderkid is driven by uncertainty over the long-term future of Shaw.