Why Man Utd's £3.3m signing Diego Leon did not make his debut this season
The Paraguayan defender predicted he would "kill it" in pre-season, but after a challenging first year in academy football, next season looks like it will make or break his time in Manchester.
Before Diego Leon travelled to Manchester last summer, he spoke to local journalists at an airport in Paraguay, saying: "I'm going to kill it in the pre-season, and within one or two games, I'll already be playing with them."
You cannot succeed without backing yourself, but Leon's bullish prediction did not come true at Manchester United this season.
The 19-year-old left-back was unveiled alongside Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko last summer, but he played exclusively in academy fixtures and most supporters will have forgotten he was signed.
How did his first few months go?
Leon's early weeks in Manchester were promising. He made a strong impression at Carrington and was handed a first-team squad number before the opening pre-season friendly against Leeds in Stockholm.
Ruben Amorim started Leon in that friendly and gave him substitute appearances against West Ham and Bournemouth in the United States. He was then introduced to the Old Trafford crowd alongside United's other summer recruits before the final pre-season game against Fiorentina.
The indicators pointed to a debut soon. He was included in a senior squad for the first time against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, and later appeared on the bench against Manchester City, Brentford and Sunderland between September and October. But he did not make the bench for a first-team game for the remainder of the campaign.
What went wrong?
Despite predicting he would "kill it," Leon slipped into the background. The reason is simple: he has lots to learn, which is why United kept him in academy matches.
There was one particular afternoon in September when Leon struggled. He was targeted by Liverpool's Under-21s at Melwood and was hooked at half-time, which was noted by staff.
His introduction to English football following a move from 6,300 miles away has been challenging. He ended the campaign starting for the Under-21s against Brighton at the Amex in the Premier League 2 play-off final. A week later, U
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Diego Leon?
- Diego Leon is a 19-year-old Paraguayan left-back who signed for Manchester United from Cerro Porteno last summer for an initial fee of £3.3 million.
- Why hasn't Diego Leon played for the Manchester United first team yet?
- Coaching staff determined the teenager needed time to adapt to English football and develop his skills within the under-21s academy system before stepping up to senior matches.
- Will Diego Leon go out on loan?
- A January loan move was ruled out by his agent to allow him to settle in Manchester, but a temporary move next season remains a possibility if he does not break into the senior squad.