Ruben Amorim’s forgotten first signing could still leave Man Utd

27 Aug 2026 08:23 BST | 4 min read

Ruben Amorim, Man Utd, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Manchester United’s hunt for a left-back could prompt Ruben Amorim’s forgotten first signing to depart Old Trafford.

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Diego Leon was signed by United from Cerro Porteno in a deal worth €4 million in a move that was agreed in January 2025 before being made official the following summer, by which time he had turned 18.

There were high hopes that the now-19-year-old star would ultimately be integrated into Man Utd’s first-team squad, but after 12 months in England, the once-capped Paraguay international has barely appeared on the radar.

Leon has been on the Man Utd bench on four occasions, but never since October, meaning that he has never been considered by Michael Carrick, who took over from Amorim in January.

Instead, he has been playing with the Red Devils’ U21 side in the Premier League 2, chalking up 11 appearances at that level last term.

But with his route to the first team set to be barred by the arrival of another left-back, the player’s agent admits that it could be time for him to assess his options as the summer transfer window draws to a close.

“He’s in a growth phase, his body is handling the training load very well,” agent Renato Bittar told ABC Cardinal.

“His future is still unclear, the club hasn’t asked us to let him go. We’ll see if anything comes up this week.”

What’s happening with Diego Leon at Man Utd?

Leon faces a tough challenge to make any headway at Man Utd, despite an apparent lack of options for Carrick in the left-back area.

Luke Shaw is the first pick for that role, with Harry Amass, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu all ahead of him.

So why isn’t Carrick considering him?

Leon has had a tough settling-in period at Man Utd, with a couple of injury issues hindering him last season. But there are also areas of his game that he needs to develop.

He is physically impressive and has all the tools to become a Premier League-level players, with formidable strength and excellent running power. However, his technique is an area that needs to be worked on, and it is generally accepted that Amass, who is also 19, is significantly ahead in his development after impressing on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

If Leon remains at Man Utd, it’s likely that he departs on loan to a lower-league club in order to build his experience.

Regardless, for a fee of €4m, Leon was a relatively low-stakes signing by the Red Devils, who will likely be able to recoup a fair portion of that figure for a player who still has three years to run on his contract.