Man Utd are close to announcing another exciting addition to their squad in the summer transfer window.
Diego Leon is set to sign an initial five-year deal with Manchester United after he travelled to England to complete his move from Cerro Porteño in the summer transfer window. United reached an agreement to sign the teenage full-back in the January transfer window but were unable to complete a deal until he turned 18 in April.
The 18-year-old spoke to reporters on Tuesday as he prepared to board his flight to Europe and boldly claimed he was eyeing a first-team role in his debut season at the club. United will pay Cerro Porteño an initial fee of around £3.2m, with add-ons that could eventually see it rise to a higher figure.
United will take a look at Leon during their summer schedule before a final decision is made on his immediate future. The Paraguayan teenager will likely feature in their first pre-season friendly fixtures and could even be named in the squad that travels to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series.
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Diego Leon eyes first-ream role next season
Manchester United are expected to formally announce Diego Leon as a new signing this week, just as they did when they signed Sekou Kone from Guidars FC a year ago. At the age of 18, Leon will be recognised as a senior addition this summer, though there is an acceptance he might need a year to adapt to his new surroundings before he can be properly unleashed into the first-team environment.
Kone made 14 appearances for United across the various age groups during his debut campaign and trained regularly with the first team without ever making a senior appearance. It could be a similar story for the teenage left-back, who is likely to feature for the U21s and feature in the EFL Trophy matches against League 1 and League 2 clubs, though he has the added benefit of a full pre-season schedule, unlike Kone, who arrived on deadline day last summer.
Leon is excited to get started at his new club, and in a conversation with reporters at the airport, he set out his huge ambition for his first summer at the club. "Everyone thinks I'll go out on loan, but I don't have that mindset," he said. "I'm going to kill it in the preseason, and within one or two games, I'll already be playing with them.
"The feelings are indescribable. You feel so many things. The truth is, I’m very happy, very happy to be there. I think every player dreams of this, and I have the opportunity. Thank God for the opportunity. I think it was a bit quick too, but hey, you have to adapt quickly once you’re there. I’m already a professional. You have to adapt quickly. I’ll have to adapt a bit to the climate, the language, and all that. I have a lot of confidence in myself. I’m going to be at the top with them. Now with the faith intact that I can succeed.”
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