Man Utd to welcome £7m star compared to Wayne Rooney in huge boost for Ruben Amorim

Manchester United signed teenager Diego Leon back in January but allowed him to remain in Paraguay until the summer with the left-back compared to Wayne Rooney

Manchester United will welcome Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon at the start of July after previously landing his signature in a £7million deal. The new arrival has drawn comparisons to Wayne Rooney given his impact at such a young age.

The Red Devils have gone after some household names this summer but it is the lesser known individual who has been tipped to have a major impact. United paid an initial £3.3m but allowed the teenager to remain at Cerro Porteno.

Playing in the Paraguayan top flight meant he was able to land regular minutes and he will hope to feature in Ruben Amorim’s plans, but will have to usurp several household names in the pecking order if he wants to be considered first choice.

Paraguayan football expert Ralph Hannah, co-host of the podcast Guaraní Vision, told the MEN that Leon reminds him of a teenage Rooney, who would go on to become the club’s all-time leading scorer.

He said: “So far he has always played in a back four as an attacking left back, but his athleticism would suggest he would have the legs for wing back. His U17s coach Badayco Maciel told me he could play left wing. The main question marks will be tactically if he could adapt quick enough.

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“For United fans his shaved head and hunched shoulders that make his seem much older than he is and are reminiscent of a teenage Rooney.”

United have previously benefitted from going after teenage talent, only to see them blossom. Alejandro Garnacho arrived from Atletico Madrid for an initial £150,000 in 2020 and has since become a first-team member and would command a hefty fee if he were to leave, which remains a possibility this summer.

Amorim has wasted no time in bolstering his ranks this summer. Matheus Cunha has signed from Wolves for just over £60m, owing to a release clause in his contract. More firepower is a priority with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Bryan Mbeumo being linked.

United missed out on the signing of Liam Delap, who opted to join Chelsea rather than heading to Manchester. The club’s dire season though emphasised the need for improvement in a majority of areas as Amorim sets about his recruitment.

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