Manchester United were linked with signing Colombian striker Neyser Villarreal. He is now starring in Brazil, and could become available again.
Late last year Manchester United struck a deal with Fortaleza to sign Colombia midfield talent Cristian Orozco. He will join the club in July, after he has turned 18.
Orozco was just one of a small number of Colombian talents Manchester United were assessing.
Last March, United In Focus was able to report that United were keeping a close eye on Neyser Villarreal, after he scored eight goals in nine games at the under-20 World Cup.
He ended up with 15 goals in 22 games for Colombia’s under-20s in total.
United did not follow through on interest in the young striker, who was snapped up by Brazilian side Cruzeiro, leaving Millonarios in Colombia.
Neyser Villarreal playing for Colombia
Photo by Martín Fonseca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
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Neyser Villarreal impressing for Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro’s move for Neyser Villarreal appears to be paying off so far, with the 20-year-old striker already making an impression for their first team.
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Villarreal has scored two goals in his opening four league games for Cruzeiro, netting against Vasco da Gama and Athletico Mineiro.
He signed a five-year deal with Cruzeiro on a pre-contract agreement, leaving Millonarios, where he got the chance to train alongside Radamel Falcao.
“In every training session, he corrects my mistakes and is always there to give me advice,” he told Trivela last year.
The manner of his departure upset his former club, while injuries delayed Villarreal’s start for Cruzeiro, but after two goals in March for the club, things are looking up.
Speaking last year after the deal was struck, Cruzeiro’s head of scouting Joaquim Pinto admitted that they could flip him for a quick sale.
He told Terra: “We could already sell Néiser and make money. Because there he is. There were many (clubs) that, in this U-20 World Cup, didn’t have him so well identified, or they did, but didn’t want to take the risk.”
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United did take the risk on Cristian Orozco, and have also taken the plunge on young targets Chido Obi, Diego Leon, Ayden Heaven and Sekou Kone over the past year.
Not all can be instant hits, or eventual ones, but United have to keep taking these chances. Cruzeiro will be happy with their acquisition of Neyser Villarreal.
And if the young striker keeps on scoring in Brazil, he might be a player who United reconsider.
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