Cristian Orozco new midfielder to sign in 2026

Always a supporter of these cheap punts on promising young talent found by our scouting network. About time we started listening to our regional scouts and taking a chance on some of these highly-rated youngsters, as opposed to constantly missing out. No idea if he'll ever be any good. Looks a unit, and tidy, but honestly the only assessment I would trust is from a local football analyst who has watched him loads. What separated Caicedo from the rest, was that Tim Vickery was waxing lyrical about him when he was available for 5m. That was an opinion I trusted.

Sign enough of these types of high potential players for cheap, and a few of them are bound to turn into something good. Especially if we have top scouts.
 
From a Colombian fan:

i've been watching him since he was younger here through the age categories. a lot of people only now are paying attention, but for people who saw him develop it’s nothing new.

he’s a really interesting player cause when he was with the youth categories he is playing as the 10, even also as central defender. weird mix right? but i think that’s why now he’s very complete in midfield. you can see he is understanding the game from both sides. he has the vision from the 10 and the defensive reading from the central defender.

now he’s more like a physical 6 in the modern style. strong in duels, covering so much ground, fast. but also he can step forward, he looks for the forward pass, not just win the ball then sideways. i think this combination sees him very special, because in Colombia we don’t always produce that kind of profile, usually is more either very technical or very physical but not both.

he’s still young, so i don’t want to exaggerate, but i feel he can really grow into an important player in future. i want to say crazy things but with young players you can't be sure so i will leave it at an important player. you can see already he has personality on the field, doesn’t hide, always asking for the ball. athletic and technical mix. a special talent.
 
Some details on him:

Name: Cristian Orozco
Age: 17
Position: CDM, holding midfielder.
Height: 178cm - 5'10" (edited)
Weight: 72kg - 159lbs

Looks like he plays a big game being only 5'8". He clearly outsizes all u17 players, I thought he was 6ft.
 
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What I like about the highlights is that he never seems to have to run. Always in position and unflustered. Of course, the highlights are partial, but often with young defensive midfielders you still see a lot of recovery runs and last ditch tackles in their highlights. At least suggests that his game IQ is higher than those around him at youth level, which can only be a positive.
 
Some details on him:

Name: Cristian Orozco
Age: 17
Position: CDM, holding midfielder.
Height: 178cm - 5'8"
Weight: 72kg - 159lbs

Looks like he plays a big game being only 5'8". He clearly outsizes all u17 players, I thought he was 6ft.
178cm is not 5'8". 180cm is 6 foot, so he is around 5'11".
 
Amazing news - would like us to make more of these signings.
 
A position we’re desperate in. Do love these signings if they can develop the way we’d like.
 
Find it hard to get excited as we need a player now, I'll never turn my nose up at these type of signings but every year we make several and they aren't anywhere near the first team.

Leon, Obi, Carreras, Kone, Pellistri, Hannibal, Lusale - How many impact the first team at all? We don't seem to develop them correctly.

Look at players like Kone, Obi, Thwaites, Mantato, Lacey etc - Should they not be out on loan to see how they develop against mens football? What are the Brighton's etc doing different that allow them to develop talent more consistently?
 
Some details on him:

Name: Cristian Orozco
Age: 17
Position: CDM, holding midfielder.
Height: 178cm - 5'8"
Weight: 72kg - 159lbs

Looks like he plays a big game being only 5'8". He clearly outsizes all u17 players, I thought he was 6ft.
178 is 5 ft 10
 
Find it hard to get excited as we need a player now, I'll never turn my nose up at these type of signings but every year we make several and they aren't anywhere near the first team.

Leon, Obi, Carreras, Kone, Pellistri, Hannibal, Lusale - How many impact the first team at all? We don't seem to develop them correctly.

Look at players like Kone, Obi, Thwaites, Mantato, Lacey etc - Should they not be out on loan to see how they develop against mens football? What are the Brighton's etc doing different that allow them to develop talent more consistently?
Try harder!

Great seeing young players coming to the club.
 
Find it wonderfully bizarre how the UK has technically transitioned to the metric system like sane people yet still measure people in feet and stone.
 
Love these type of signings until I see them play 1 game, decide they aren't good enough and claim they won't make it here.
 
Find it hard to get excited as we need a player now, I'll never turn my nose up at these type of signings but every year we make several and they aren't anywhere near the first team.

Leon, Obi, Carreras, Kone, Pellistri, Hannibal, Lusale - How many impact the first team at all? We don't seem to develop them correctly.

Look at players like Kone, Obi, Thwaites, Mantato, Lacey etc - Should they not be out on loan to see how they develop against mens football? What are the Brighton's etc doing different that allow them to develop talent more consistently?

Basically the only ones you've listed there who aren't either tiny or have suffered severe injuries (or both) are Obi and Mantato. So no, they shouldn't all be out on loan.

And it's quite normal to sign talents that don't go on and make it in your first team. Look back at Pique, Rossi, Lee Martin, Petrucci, Macheda etc. Some won't even go on to have particularly good careers, others will but not here, it's always happened. Then you get the likes of Amad, Heaven and Dorgu who hopefully will remain in the first team for a while yet as either first teamers or squad players, and Collyer might too.

I will say your name is quite funny though in the context of this debate and I can see why you get excited about these signings. :lol:
 
Basically the only ones you've listed there who aren't either tiny or have suffered severe injuries (or both) are Obi and Mantato. So no, they shouldn't all be out on loan.

And it's quite normal to sign talents that don't go on and make it in your first team. Look back at Pique, Rossi, Lee Martin, Petrucci, Macheda etc. Some won't even go on to have particularly good careers, others will but not here, it's always happened. Then you get the likes of Amad, Heaven and Dorgu who hopefully will remain in the first team for a while yet as either first teamers or squad players, and Collyer might too.

I will say your name is quite funny though in the context of this debate and I can see why you get excited about these signings. :lol:
I was the ultimate muppet scouting Football Manager etc but after seeing so many dissapointments through intangibles that we cannot know like morale, personality, mindset etc

Listen I hope some of these players really come good and contribute, I will always hope that but I do think we need to do a bit better on decision making regarding their development.
 
Looks quality. I always like CM’s when they always have time on the ball.
 
Never had of him till we signed him now I think he's going to be the best midfielder at United since Roy Keane.
 
Not getting my hopes up ,till I see him play in a midfield two