Manchester United prospect Diego Leon is learning his trade in the under-21 squad.
If you happened to watch Diego Leon play for Manchester United’s under-21s against Tottenham earlier this season, you might come to the conclusion he is a future world beater. Leon scored a dramatic solo goal in that game where he ran half the length of the pitch with the ball before scoring.
On the other side, if you watched Leon play for United’s under-21s against Chelsea this week, you would have legitimate concerns over whether he will make it into the first team.
This is why perspective is always needed with young players and their development.
Diego Leon playing for Man Utd's under-21s
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Diego Leon’s tough night vs Chelsea
Diego Leon was in the starting line-up for Manchester United’s under-21s against Chelsea on March 2. It was a tough night for the Red Devils, with three players forced off with injuries, including striker Chido Obi.
United lost the game 2-0, the first league defeat for the under-21s since October. Some nights nothing goes your way, and this was one of them.
Diego Leon had a particularly tough night. He had a tricky task trying to contain Chelsea’s Swedish winger Genesis Antwi, who was direct and caused him problems. Chelsea’s first goal came from a cross on Leon’s left-side, which Shumaira Mheuka scored.
Leon struggled to get into the game at all from an attacking perspective, and towards the end of the game he attempted to play a crossfield ball that went behind his teammates and sailed off for a throw-in. It was a moment that summed up his night, nothing was going his way.
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United are taking Leon’s development at the right pace
This was only Diego Leon’s eighth league game for United’s under-21s. He has played double that number when you factor in the multiple cup competitions.
But just like it would have been wrong to overreact and promote him after his solo wondergoal earlier int the season, writing him off after a tough performance would be foolish too.
Leon has already played first team football in Paraguay for Cerro Porteno, and he was called up to represent his country late last year, making his debut.
There had been speculation that Leon could be sent out on loan to Ineos partner club Nice during the transfer window.
And while that might have been a more competitive environment for Leon to learn in, it also might have been too much too soon.
Leon’s latest performance shows that he has a lot to learn, and Manchester United’s coaches will analyse it with him and try to help him improve.
United are taking his development at the right pace. Leon will get the opportunity to come good.
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