Manchester United signed Diego Leon from Club Cerro Porteñoplaceholder image
Manchester United signed Diego Leon from Club Cerro Porteño | Manchester World
Man Utd confirmed Diego Leon as their second summer signing a week ago and this is what to expect from him.
When Diego Leon wears the Manchester United shirt for the first time this summer, he will not only be representing himself and his family, but he will be representing an entire nation.
With a population of just 6.8million, Paraguay is often overlooked when it comes to South American geography and tourism, yet they have always overachieved with regards to its football ability. Though they have not qualified for the three subsequent World Cups since they reached the quarter-finals in 2010, they are on course to feature in the expanded tournament next year.
It will provide Paraguay with the platform to express its unique heritage and identity. It could also give Leon, the first Paraguayan to represent United, an opportunity to mark his debut season in remarkable style.
"It’s absolutely monumental," journalist Roberto Rojas told Manchester World. "To be the first in anything, especially at a club as massive as Manchester United, means everything in Paraguayan football terms. United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and that includes in Paraguay. There are many United fans back home, and now they get to see one of their own wear that shirt.
"His move gives hope and belief to a new generation. Those kids who can now look at him and say, ‘If he made it, maybe I can too.’ If it all goes well, it could even change how Paraguayan players are viewed globally. Plenty of Paraguayans have done well in the Premier League, but none have played for a club with the global stature and historic weight of Manchester United, so this changes everything."
There are currently four other Paraguayan players contracted to Premier League clubs, and just 12 in the history of the competition. Leon will hope thirteen isn't an unlucky number as he looks to emulate what compatriots Roque Santa Cruz and Miguel Almirón both accomplished in the English top-flight.
Manchester United completed the signing of Diego Leon last weekplaceholder image
Manchester United completed the signing of Diego Leon last week | Manchester United via Getty Images
He certainly doesn't lack confidence. Leon has ambitiously claimed he is ready to 'kill it' in pre-season and aim for a first-team role in his debut campaign. The reality is he will likely feature in pre-season and for the U21 side first, but the fact he was unveiled as a senior signing rather than an academy one signals just how highly he is rated.
Rojas added: "I think what sets Diego apart is his composure beyond his years, combined with his technical ability and versatility on the left side. He’s a modern fullback, intelligent in reading the game, confident going forward, and disciplined enough to track back and defend. He’s also effective in attack, which adds another layer to his game. To be doing all of this at just 18, with very limited senior football experience in Paraguay, shows he’s something special.
"I'd say his standout traits are his pace and physical strength. For someone so young, he’s already built well and doesn’t look out of place physically. His crossing ability is also very effective, and that will only improve with top-level training under Amorim. Beyond the technical side, he has a strong work ethic and mentality, and you could see that in the way he spoke when leaving for England. He seems hungry and grounded."
Diego Leon has ambitions of becoming a first-team regular at Manchester Unitedplaceholder image
Diego Leon has ambitions of becoming a first-team regular at Manchester United | Manchester United
That work ethic has been instilled in Leon ever since he was a child. The youngest of nine children, his first taste of football came playing with a rolled-up piece of cloth as the family could not afford a real football. His mother claims that at the age of five, he boldly stated he would play for Cerro Porteno, and eight years later, he did.
The first thing he will buy with his United pay packet is a house for his parents, who sacrificed so much to help him fulfil his dreams. Cerro president Juan Jose Zapag claimed Leon is 'a left-back like no other in the world,' though the teenager will tell you himself he idolised Real Madrid great Marcelo during his upbringing.
What is very important, though, is patience. A year ago, Leon wasn't even well-known by Cerro Porteno supporters. In early August, the Paraguayan side was without their two senior left-backs due to injury and head coach Manolo Jimenez decided to give the teenager his debut. He scored the only goal of the game to seal a 1-0 win. The following week, he scored again.
"It’s always tricky with players this young," Rojas warned. "It’s very Paraguayan, in a sense, to come in wanting to make a strong impression right away and believing they can succeed. But moving from Paraguayan football to the Premier League is a completely different world, and the adjustment won’t be easy. If he’s given patience, proper development, and the right environment, I believe he can succeed, but it likely won’t happen right away. He’s still only 18, after all, so at least there’s some patience."
Those thoughts are echoed by Matias Cuevas, who has reported on Leon throughout his time with Cerro Porteno. He was one of those who accompanied the teenager to the airport ahead of his departure last week, and he saw Leon as much as a friend as he did a footballer.
"I am just so proud, man," he told Manchester World. "Paraguay always has the talent, but very few times the opportunity like this. I have known Diego since the formative years. He’s a very humble and very hard-working lad, but he also has the mentality to make the most of this opportunity. He was the left back of the biggest club in Paraguay, also the left back of the U20 Paraguayan team that qualified for the World Cup. Everyone knows him. When a Paraguayan has this opportunity, the whole country wants the best for him."
It is clear Leon has the mentality and work rate to succeed in Manchester; now he just needs a little bit of luck along the way. Whether he manages to do that remains to be seen, but the fact that he is already at United at such a young age is enough to make his entire nation proud.
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