Man Utd fans are saying the same thing about Diego Leon as stats from debut from Leeds need to be seen
As all eyes were on Manchester United summer signing Matheus Cunha in their pre-season opener, another new transfer took the attention from fans instead.
Cunha arrived from Wolves at the start of the transfer window to bolster Ruben Amorim’s toothless attack, with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo likely to follow him after a reported breakthrough in talks this week.
Amorim must improve United’s forward line after last season’s awful 15th-placed finish, while five first team players have told the club they want to leave – including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony. Rashford is said to be close to a surprise loan move to Barcelona according to reports on Saturday, making Mbeumo’s arrival more important for Amorim’s squad this season.
At the same time as the Rashford reports emerged, United kicked off their pre-season fixtures in Sweden as they took on newly-promoted Leeds at the Strawberry Arena, Stockholm.
In the build-up, it was reported that Amorim will be able to call upon another summer signing, Diego Leon, after it was decided not to send him out on loan as planned.
Leon arrived from Cerro Porteno as a prospect for the future, but will now be given the chance to earn a first team squad place for the coming season.
He made his debut against Leeds and fans were quickly impressed by the teenager, with a series of impresses statistics emerging from his first half display.
As highlighted by Statman Dave on X, Leon recorded a 100 per cent long ball accuracy, winning every tackle he attempted and had an 80 per cent pass accuracy from just 29 touches. Within that, he created two chances, recovered the ball three times, had two attempts on goal and two take-ons against his opponents.
Leon was replaced at the break with the scores level at 0-0, with neither side able to score a winner in the second half as the friendly ended goalless.
Yet fans were suitably impressed with Leon and called for him to get more opportunities in the coming pre-season fixtures when United fly to the USA.
Leon got stuck in on his Manchester United debut. (Image: Getty)Leon got stuck in on his Manchester United debut. (Image: Getty)
Leon got stuck in on his Manchester United debut. (Image: Getty)
One fan said: “Honestly can’t wait to see more of him, he looks hungry.” Another added: “Composed, progressive, and mature beyond his age. Diego León looks like a serious talent — efficient on the ball and confident under pressure. One to watch.”
Others pointed out that Leon still has plenty to improve upon as they praised his replacement Patrick Dorgu, yet he was still hailed as ‘fantastic’, ‘solid’ and ‘excellent’ by fans on social media as they raved over one particular piece of impressive control and composure under pressure.
Roberto Rojas on X summed up the debut by saying: “Decent debut for Diego León as a Manchester United player. Obviously the first game jitters will always be made apparent hence a bit of ball-watching & lost possession. But demonstrated he can work tactically. Few little tweaks and perhaps he can be trusted long-term.”
Manchester United’s pre-season clash with Leeds may have ended in a **goalless draw**, but the standout storyline wasn’t the debut of big-name arrival Matheus Cunha — it was the **surprise impact of teenage sensation Diego León**.
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### 🔴 Who is Diego León?
* **Age**: 18
* **Position**: Versatile attacking midfielder/winger
* **Joined from**: Cerro Porteño (Paraguay)
* **Status**: Expected to be loaned out, but impressed enough in training to earn a spot in the **first-team pre-season squad** under new manager **Rúben Amorim**
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### ⚡ Debut vs Leeds: Stats & Impact
In just **45 minutes** of action, León made a strong impression with:
* ✅ **100% long ball accuracy**
* ✅ **100% tackle success rate**
* 🎯 **80% pass accuracy** (29 touches)
* 🎨 **2 chances created**
* 🔁 **3 ball recoveries**
* 🎯 **2 take-ons completed**
* ⚽ **2 shots on goal**
He was **subbed off at halftime**, but had done more than enough to generate buzz.
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### 🗣️ Fan & Analyst Reactions
Fans were **instantly won over** by León’s intensity, composure, and intelligence:
* *“Honestly can’t wait to see more of him, he looks hungry.”*
* *“Composed, progressive, and mature beyond his age.”*
* *“Diego León looks like a serious talent — efficient on the ball and confident under pressure.”*
Even respected football analyst **Roberto Rojas** chimed in:
> “Decent debut… a bit of ball-watching and lost possession here and there, but he showed tactical awareness. With a few tweaks, he could be trusted long-term.”
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### 🧠 What Makes Him Special?
León’s strengths include:
* Calmness under pressure
* Progressive, vertical thinking
* A strong blend of South American flair and tactical discipline
* High football IQ for his age
He looked **physically prepared** for senior-level football, which is rare for teenagers from outside Europe’s top leagues.
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### 📍 What’s Next?
* León is expected to **feature in the USA tour**, especially with multiple senior players (Rashford, Antony, Garnacho) pushing for exits.
* **Amorim** reportedly sees him as a **”live option”** rather than a short-term project — especially if further sales weaken squad depth.
* His progress could **accelerate** if United fail to sign another wide forward or if someone like Mbeumo joins but needs time to settle.
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### ⚠️ The Rashford–Barcelona Shock & Its Ripple Effects
With **Marcus Rashford reportedly nearing a loan move to Barcelona**, León’s rise becomes even more relevant:
* Mbeumo’s arrival is expected to help replace Rashford,
* But a **hungry, in-form young winger like León** offers Amorim immediate flexibility — especially for EFL Cup and early-season rotation.
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### 🔍 Final Thought
**Diego León** is still raw, but his confident debut suggests he might be **the breakout name of United’s pre-season**. If his growth continues across the US tour, United fans may see him make competitive appearances sooner than expected.
Would you like a comparison of Diego León to other United wonderkids like Mainoo or Mejbri — or a predicted XI with León included if Rashford and Antony leave?
