He is some unit , I hope he can be an option next season
Diego León
- Thread starter MyOnlySolskjaer
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In the latest edition of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) chats to author, Dan Williamson, about his new book 'If I Hadnt Seen Such Riches' which chronicles our 1990/91 European Cup Winners Cup victory, which is a trip down memory lane for those old enough to remember it and a vital history lesson for those who don't.
He is some unit , I hope he can be an option next season
Part of this is because we weren’t involved in that dodgy PSR swapping nonsense. I’m glad we kept our integrity at least in that regard.
That number 20 he's up against looks good!
His crossing looks good in those 2 vids, the rest not so much.
Rough first half for him vs Brazil, got dispossessed in the box for Brazils opener and then missed a great chance to level things up at 2-1 down, though it was a nice save from the Brazilian keeper.
He looks really raw - I don't think he looks anywhere close to getting starts in 2025/2026 season.
He's 17 and playing for a Paraguayan club. He's definitely going to spend a few months in u-21s before even being considered for the first team as a backup for Dorgu/Shaw. We also have Amass who could make the step up as a backup next year.
I'd leave him in South America for another season. Maybe a higher level there but such a big ask to bring him to Manchester right now.
Scored the winner against Argentina U20.
Some of the opposition defending there is fecking awful!
Still, he doesn't look like he'll struggle too much physically at least. Low level though it maybe be, he's still playing against fully grown men and seems to have great athleticism. It would be a huge plus if he's ready to play in the EPL next season - Dorgu has done alright, without carrying much of a serious attacking threat
Would love to see this kid join the first team.
It would be an interesting contrast when he stands next to Amass.
It seems like ages since we've had a successful signings like this - young players from relative obscurity for a low fee, who become established in the first team. Really hope this kid can be the one to do so.
No idea how good he can become but what's clear to me is that he looks like a natural fit as a wing back, which is a big advantage for him.
No idea how good he can become but what's clear to me is that he looks like a natural fit as a wing back, which is a big advantage for him.
Heaven?
Seems miles ahead of him physically.
Ages!
Yeah, he's another. Bit early to say he's a success yet, but well on course. Somehow seems a bit different nabbing him from Arsenal though.
Garnacho is the obvious one, surely. Pinched him from Atletico at 16.
Not to be negative but having watched all the highlights that came out after watching United sign him, I just can't see this being the success some people are trying to manifest. He looks so raw and beyond his physicality, he didn't even standout at age group level in the last South American underage tournament he featured in a while back. The fee wasn't even bargain basement so not even confident we'll make any significant profit on his development. I really hope I'm wrong but I'm not seeing it with this guy at all.
We're obviously investing in the development of a promising 18 year old here based on scouting. He is coming here pretty under the radar and as such, expectations will be low - just as with Chido and Heaven, therefore there won't be any immediate pressure and he will under ideal conditions, be able to develop organically as he gets settled in. The videos that I've seen look promising, but much obviously depends on the work he puts in once in England.
Yeah sure I get that its based on scouting but you'd expect to be able to see whatever the scouts are seeing yourself. Like Chido was doing crazy goal numbers and you can spot Heaven's talent on the ball so the question mark was always whether he could scale up to senior football but with DL, I'm kinda perplexed as to what they saw in him apart from being an absolute unit while still a child.
Reminds me of a left side Saidy Janko but sometimes a right physical + mental profile can go a long way.
Based on the YT videos, which are extremely biased and don't really give the full picture, he is got something, pace, power, dribbling, and so on (granted the oppo is quite low level), and remember, Chido might fail despite being a revelation in youth with his goal scoring, while Mctominay made it despite not being that great during his youth, it is always a risk, but in this case, Leon is a cheap punt, and at 18, he is got excellent physicality and he could be developed, from that perspective you could see why the club got him.
I see a left sided Valencia type. He is built like a boxer with some pace. He can dribble a bit. If he can deliver crosses like Valencia then he could become useful.
Yeah, and from memory I think he was a bit of a late bloomer in terms of moving to a top club quite late so its possible he's just a player that is developing/assimilating to senior football super quickly and that the scouts are projecting that rapid development further into his career.
My point is that I don't think 7mn was that cheap a punt for such a raw and unheralded South American talent. In contrast, we got Heaven and Chido for £1mn and I'd imagine both of those players have higher ceilings based on what I've seen - though we don't have a crystal ball.
Moises Caicedo is a good comparison for one of these punts. Brighton paid 4mn for a probable tier 3 South American country's most promising young player but when they did it, he was already a full international and being touted as having potential to be the greatest ever Ecuadorean footballer. We paid 7mn for a player who has nowhere near the reputation that Caicedo did and is probably from an even worse footballing country which I think counts for something in terms of demanding fees.
£7m is including clauses, which won't be met until he has played and and performed well.
They paid 4M because they are Brighton. When big clubs call, the fee goes up.
The fee is £3m, not £7m, there are add-ons but we don't know what are they so you should assume his fee to be £3m, which is still a hefty fee for a youth out of Paraguay and that's why I see your concerns, players like Garna and Carrera cost far less than £3m, Chido and Heaven didn't sign new contract with Arsenal so we paid the fee decided in a tribunal probably which is usually between £500k and £1m, so £3m is still quite a lot and a gamble, however where I differ with you is that this is a calculated risk and for a club like United, £3m isn't alot of money in general.
Since we need to invest heavily in other positions and Shaw is out most times, I can see him playing more games than expected. He might be a Heaven like talent who slots in quicker than normal
That was my take as well.
He looks confident and brave in the videos I've seen of him always bombing forward drawing a few defenders with him. At this young age he's already displaying traits of courage, positivity, wanting to be on the front foot and backing himself in whatever decisions he makes on the ball which is very encouraging of a youth player.
Its a bonus he's already built like a mini tank. This one can become a very good player if he's developement is managed correctly.
Its a bonus he's already built like a mini tank. This one can become a very good player if he's developement is managed correctly.
“He looks really raw”
There is NO WAY anyone has seen this guy play. Just no chance. Let’s just see how he gets on.
There is NO WAY anyone has seen this guy play. Just no chance. Let’s just see how he gets on.
Also. What 17 year old doesn’t look raw? Those criticising him off a few YouTube clips need to give your heads a wobble
Its not a big deal. He is a Man Utd player and will get my support.
His technique does look much more raw vs a Amass for example who is 1 month older. Or Alvaro when he was 18.
I only made the point to say that he is an unlikely selection for first team in the coming season as he has a lot of work to do.
You should watch the few Youtube videos though. Maybe will appreciate what we are trying to convey.
Not every observation is a criticism. There is nothing wrong in folks observing that he might not be immediately available to play a part for the first team.
Maybe people taking umbrage at that need to give their heads a wobble.
I suspect its just an autocorrect. They meant to say, 'He likes it raw.''
He looks better than Dorgu did in his highlights videos, in my opinion. Obviously that's not much to go by but I'm quite impressed. Watching grown men bounce off a 17 year old is reminiscent of a young Rooney for me, in terms of physicality.
There are people on this page criticising the signing.
If this guy went somewhere else you'd have people on here saying Utd should have taken the punt on him for a relatively low fee.
Utd take a punt and for some it was too much for a young player who's probably going to amount to nothing anyway.
Utd take a punt and for some it was too much for a young player who's probably going to amount to nothing anyway.