Manchester United are set to sign Diego Leonplaceholder image
Manchester United are set to sign Diego Leon | IG: diego.leon04
Man Utd are set to complete another impressive signing as they build for the future.
Manchester United are set to complete the signing of Diego Leon this week after the teenage defender travelled to Manchester to finalise his transfer. United reached an agreement to sign the teenage full-back earlier in the year but were unable to complete a deal until he turned 18 in April.
United will pay Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño an initial fee of around £3.2m, with add-ons that could eventually see it rise to as much as £7m. It is understood that United will review 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. Leon boldly claimed this week he was going to 'kill it' in pre-season and aim for a first-team role next season.
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A fond farewell
Diego Leon is set to earn a lot of money for Cerro Porteño, and his boyhood club will be hoping he fulfils his potential and earns them the larger transfer fee. It will also be a proud moment for them to see a young Paraguayan playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world, with an entire nation eager to support him in his journey.
Taking to social media in midweek, Cerro Porteño posted a farewell message to Leon and wished him all the best ahead of his move to Old Trafford. “We wish the greatest success to the player Diego León, Canterano del Cyclón, who will continue his career as a professional footballer in England and will bring all the Paraguayan talent to the prestigious Premier League. Let’s go all in, Diego," the post read.
United are expected to formally announce 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 that he might need a year to adapt to his new surroundings before he can be properly unleashed into the first-team environment.
The teenager 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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