Early July, Diego Leon will start ing the Manchester United squad. The 19-year-old left-back has officially ed the Red Devils after previously agreeing a transfer worth £7 million.
Leon, who previously played for Cerro Porteno, is believed to have great potential to become a key player at Old Trafford.
Although still very young, Leon has shown maturity in playing at a professional level. While defending Cerro Porteno in the Paraguayan League, he was often a mainstay on the left side of the defense while also contributing to the attack.
Interestingly, Leon has started to attract attention from an early age. In fact, Paraguayan football expert, Ralph Hannah, said his playing style is reminiscent of United legend, Wayne Rooney, when he was a teenager.
“Leon has always played as an offensive left-back in a four-man defense, but with his athletic physique, he can also adapt as a wing-back,” said Hannah, co-host of the Guaraní Vision podcast, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
In fact, his coach in the Paraguay U-17 team, Badayco Maciel, said Leon could also be relied on as a left winger. However, his biggest challenge is how he can adapt quickly to the tactics and intensity of the Premier League.
In addition to his aggressive playing style, Leon’s physical appearance also invites comparisons with the young Rooney.
“With his bald head and slightly hunched posture, Leon looks older than his age – similar to Rooney in the past,” said Hannah.
If Leon can follow in Rooney’s successful footsteps at United, then the Red Devils may have found one of the best talents in recent years.
Leon’s arrival is in line with Manchester United’s strategy which has recently focused on developing young players. Previously, Alejandro Garnacho successfully became an important pillar of the first team after being recruited from Atletico Madrid at a low price.
Amorim does not seem to want to waste time. Apart from Leon, United have also recruited Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton for £62.5 million. The likes of Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting ) and Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) have also been linked with the club.
Unfortunately, United lost Liam Delap to Chelsea. However, with the arrival of Leon and other new players, the Red Devils will hope to bounce back from a dismal season and return to competing at the top.
