As the transfer window stutters without developments, the need for Manchester United’s current players to step up is greater than ever, and one player has received that memo.
Man Utd returned to pre-season training on July 7 with one new addition (Matheus Cunha), one new arrival who signed in January (Diego Leon), and no sales.
That is hardly the state Ruben Amorim would have imagined his Man Utd squad to be in when he took the first training of the pre-season.
However, one player still did enough to break through the dark clouds and earn a ‘big beam’ from the Man Utd manager.
Diego Leon of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on July 07, 2025 in Manchester
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim impressed by Diego Leon
Diego Leon might be a raw and largely unproven teenager, albeit one with vast potential, but he doesn’t lack elite mentality.
Leon already promised to upend expectations in pre-season before arriving at Old Trafford, and the latest noises coming from Carrington prove that wasn’t an empty promise.
READ: Who is Diego Leon, Man Utd to sign 17-year-old Paraguayan as Ineos add to youth dynasty
As United returned to pre-season, the official website gave an inside look at the activities upon resumption.
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Leon was singled out as someone who showed ‘great intensity’, earning praise from Amorim, who tried to speak to him in Spanish.
Man Utd’s official website wrote: “Leon looked eager to impress, showing a great intensity which earned a big beam from Amorim. Ruben made an effort to use some Spanish phrases with Leon, too. The Paraguayan full-back is making good strides in his English, but will have appreciated that.”
Ruben Amorim needs standard-setters
While it’s true that United’s window hasn’t gone according to plan, it often takes only one to set the standards and others to follow.
Nobody is mistaking an 18-year-old kid in his first season in English football to be that guy, but it is a case of marginal gains, to borrow from Sir Dave Brailsford.
If every new signing trains like a demon, is the model professional, and demands accountability from his teammates, it has a cascading effect in lifting the standards of everyone else.
Eric Cantona was often described as that player by the Class of ’92, and Cunha has already earned comparisons to the legendary Frenchman.
Leon is also taking good initial steps in making good on his promise of surprising everyone for pre-season. He can set the standard in his own way by working hard.