Manchester United have decided to keep Diego León within their academy structure, after talks with OGC Nice failed to progress into a formal loan move in January.
The update comes from Paraguay, where journalist Christian Martin explained that the French club made contact with United but ultimately chose not to advance.
According to Martin, Nice spoke directly with United to explore a possible deal. However, the interest never turned into a concrete offer. “Nice didn’t really go for it,” he said, stressing that no formal proposal arrived on the table. As a result, León will remain at Manchester United and continue playing with the club’s youth side.
The player’s own stance also played a role. León wants minutes, but he remains convinced that opportunities could still appear at Old Trafford.
Martin revealed that internal conversations gave the youngster encouragement, including positive feedback from Michael Carrick, who reportedly told him: “I like him.”
That message, and the sense that a door might open during a stronger spell for Manchester United, pushed León to stay rather than force a loan.
Manchester United stay carries risk
From Paraguay, the decision comes with mixed feelings. Staying at United keeps him inside a long-term development plan, but it also carries risk.
Remaining at youth level could hurt his chances of making the World Cup squad, a point Martin highlighted clearly. León chose continuity at Manchester United over a move to OGC Nice, even knowing that international exposure may suffer.
For now, Manchester United see his progress as “normal and positive,” in line with the pathway laid out when he arrived. León continues to bet on patience and internal growth, while outside interest cools.
Whether that gamble pays off will depend on whether the long-promised first-team window finally opens.