Diego Leon will feature for Manchester United in pre-season before a decision is made on his next steps. The Paraguayan teenager, signed last summer for a fee that could rise to £7m, spent his first season solely with the academy.
Background and Arrival
United signed Leon from Cerro Porteno for an initial £3.3 million, with add-ons potentially taking the total to £7 million. He was unveiled alongside Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko at Old Trafford before the final pre-season game. However, he played exclusively in academy fixtures this term.
First-Team Opportunities
Ruben Amorim included Leon in four matchday squads at the start of the campaign. After October, the 19-year-old did not make the bench for a first-team game for the remainder of the campaign. United decided to keep Leon with the Under-21s to give him time to improve different areas of his game.
Pre-Season and Loan Prospects
Leon will now get a chance to show what he can do in pre-season before a plan is formed for him next season. Leaving on loan in the January transfer window was not realistic, but doing so in 2026/2027 would be the logical next step for his development.
Coaching Staff and Development
Travis Binnion, now a permanent member of Michael Carrick's backroom staff, spoke about Leon to the Manchester Evening News in November: "It is evident for all to see he has some real qualities and some strong foundations to his game that he has to build on. He is aware, we are all aware, he has stuff to work on but, to be fair to the kid, he has not played a full 90 minutes yet. We will be looking to tick that off pretty soon and that will be really good for him."
Binnion added: "If he can get a run of 90 minutes, then it is fair to look at his game and see where he is at. At this moment in time, he has shown real glimpses of promise and has fitted in with the group really well."
International Recognition
Leon received his first senior call-up to represent Paraguay's national team this season. He made his Paraguay debut, a cameo from the bench, in a friendly against South Korea in October. However, he is not part of his nation's World Cup squad.
United have 12 players representing their respective nations at the World Cup. In their absence, pre-season will be an opportunity for several young players to impress Michael Carrick.
