Image Credits: Imago Images
Manchester United’s academy has received praise recently as several young players impress in England and abroad, but very few have done so before even making a first-team competitive appearance.
It’s common for new signings, especially from abroad, to wait on the fringes, perhaps in Premier League 2, or get eased in via cup matches.
Meanwhile, United’s senior squad depth at full-back has been solid, and players like Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu have been relied upon heavily.
Fans have been asking when some of the promising newcomers will get their chance, especially those who showed real promise pre-season.
And then, unexpectedly, one such player has made a senior international debut, but remarkably, before his United club debut.
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Eighteen-year-old Diego Leon finally made his senior international bow for Paraguay today, coming on in a 2-0 defeat to South Korea, even though he has yet to play a competitive first-team game for Manchester United.
Diego Leon joined United from Cerro Porteno in Paraguay on 5 July 2025, in a move that was agreed earlier in the year but completed once he turned eighteen in April.
He had already made 33 senior appearances for Cerro Porteno, scoring four goals, before moving to Old Trafford.
At United, he has featured in pre-season matches against Leeds United, West Ham United and Bournemouth, and has been training with the first team, but hasn’t yet been selected for a competitive fixture.
The competition for the left-side defensive and wing-back positions is stiff: veteran Luke Shaw has started all league games in United’s back-three, while emerging talent Patrick Dorgu is also ahead of him in the pecking order.
Leon made his international debut by coming on as a substitute for the final nine minutes.
Paraguay, who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, might see him as a player for the future in their squad.
For Leon, the question is whether this international exposure will help accelerate his path to a senior United debut, which many had expected might come soon, but clearly hasn’t yet.