Diego Leon is reportedly now en route to England, as the Cerro Porteno wonderkid prepares to sign the paperwork which will make him a Manchester United player at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
The 17-year-old has made 19 appearances for Cerro Porteno, and he is viewed as one of the best young talents in South American football, with a number of clubs credited with an interest in his services.
However, Man United have won the race for the left-back, and according to Periodista Deportiva, he is now preparing to head to England to meet his new teammates, with a deal then being made official this summer.
Diego León nuevo jugador de @ManUtd camino a Inglaterra #DeportesUNO
— Juan G. Denis C. (@JuanGDENIS) January 11, 2025
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New Man United signing Leon 'heading to England'
Leon appears to be travelling to Manchester alongside his representative Renato Bittar and Cerro Porteno vice-president Juan Carlos Pettengill.
"It was just a dream and now I'm going to know everything. I'm going for the check-ups, I'll be back on Tuesday. I've already started studying (English)," Rock & Pop Paraguay have quoted the younger as saying while at the airport.
Journalist Roberto Rojas recently called Leon "a player with a lot of promise".
"He's a player with a lot of promise, who happened to make this big jump into the first team at Cerro Porteno so quickly," Rojas told transfermarkt.
""He's definitely viewed highly because of his talent and recent performances for one of the biggest clubs in the country and occupying that left flank as a full-back has allowed him to be someone who can go onto the attack, start playing from the back and also be versatile."
Renato Bittar, representante de Diego León viaja junto a Juan Carlos Pettengill vicepresidente de Cerro Porteño. #DeportesUNO
— Juan G. Denis C. (@JuanGDENIS) January 11, 2025
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When will Leon be available for Man United?
Leon will not be immediately available for Man United, with the defender instead moving to England at the end of the campaign.
As a result, it is expected that he will be a part of the English club's pre-season preparations, with a view to potentially being in the first-team picture at Old Trafford at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
Tyrell Malacia is currently being linked with a departure, while there are concerns over Luke Shaw's ongoing muscular problems.
Man United are expected to move for an established left-back this summer, potentially Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes, but there is a chance that Leon could be the number two in that position next season depending on a number of factors.
Leon's arrival will throw Harry Amass' future into doubt, with the 17-year-old another talented left-back at Old Trafford who is currently being linked with a move away from the 20-time English champions.
Matt Law
