Manchester United’s new signing Diego Leon has vowed to fight for a first-team place when he joins the club for pre-season training.
The teenage left back from Paraguay is due to land in Manchester this week after United agreed a deal worth up to £7million with his club Cerro Porteno, and is determined to force his way into Ruben Amorim’s side rather than going out on loan.
‘I’m really happy, I think every player dreams of this,’ Leon told Paraguayan media. ‘When you’re a professional, you have to adapt quickly, it is a massive opportunity.
‘Everyone thinks I’ll go out on loan, but I don’t have that mindset. I’m going to kill it in pre-season and within one or two games, I’ll already be playing with them.’
United’s players are due to report back for pre-season training at Carrington on Monday. After two weeks of fitness work, United face Leeds in Stockholm on July 19 before going on tour to the US where they play West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton in the Premier League Summer Series. The final game is against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9.
It’s expected that Amorim and his coaching staff will monitor Leon in pre-season before deciding whether to include him in the first-team squad or send him out on loan.
Manchester United’s newest star has set his sights on earning a first-team spot soon
Teenage left back Diego Leon is flying into Manchester after a £7million deal was agreed
Leon is determined on impressing United boss Ruben Amorim to avoid going out on loan
The teenager will be up against Patrick Dorgu and Harry Amass for the left wing back position in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. Luke Shaw also recovered from a long-term hamstring injury before the end of last season but was used predominantly as a left-sided centre-back.
In January, United and Cerro Porteno agreed a fee of £3.3m which could rise to £7m with add-ons, but the deal could not be completed until Leon turned 18 in April and travelled to Manchester to undergo a medical.
The player, who is understood to have a thrown a farewell party for family and friends in Paraguay at the weekend, has agreed a five-year contract with the option of another year.
