Exclusive: Diego León to Manchester United – Expert view from Paraguay on teen sensation
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Diego León has been at the centre of Manchester United transfer talk this week, with reports from Paraguay revealing the club have reached a deal to buy the 17-year-old left-back from Cerro Porteño.
Given the widespread interest in the move and that León will potentially be the first Paraguayan to play for Manchester United, Sport Witness commissioned Pedro Torres, the journalist who broke the story, to write about the youngster and his journey so far.
From O'Leary to Old Trafford: Diego León's journey
Talking about Diego León requires a brief look at his humble beginnings. Born in the small town of O'Leary, 250 kilometres from Paraguay's capital, Asunción, León grew up in a district of just 16,000 residents, where most of the population makes a living from farming.
At the age of 13, the youngest of nine siblings, León joined Cerro Porteño in 2020, moving to the club's youth training facility, the Parque Azulgrana, located in Ypané on the outskirts of Asunción.
León quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a key player in various youth teams. By 2024, he captained the U-18 squad and made headlines as a left-back with an incredible knack for scoring goals. He became the league's top scorer with nine goals by midseason, a remarkable feat for a defender.
The turning point came in the second half of 2024, when Cerro Porteño's first-team left-back, Santiago Arzamendia, left the club. Manager Manolo Jiménez turned to León to fill the gap, calling him up for the team's preseason training camp in Málaga, Spain, at the Marbella Football Center.
Diego León made his first-team debut for Cerro Porteño on August 1, 2024, in a game that would go down in history. On that day, he became the first debutant in nine years to score a match-winning goal for the club, a feat last achieved by Ronaldo Martínez in 2015. Just a week later, on August 8, he scored again in his second professional game, cementing his status as one of the most exciting prospects in Paraguayan football. His explosive start earned him the Player of the Month award in the Copa de Primera.
Catching attention beyond South America
Across highs and lows, León played 21 matches in his debut season, completing 90 minutes in 15 of them. His performances didn't go unnoticed; the CIES Football Observatory ranked him as the fourth-best U-18 player in the world.
Known for his natural offensive qualities and relentless physicality, León thrives as an attacking left-back, often cutting inside to create opportunities. However, he has room to grow defensively, particularly in tracking long balls and maintaining focus during 1v1 duels with opposing wingers.
As Cerro Porteño look ahead to the 2025 season, León faces stiff competition from Leonardo Daniel Rivas, a 23-year-old who has represented Paraguay's Olympic and senior national teams. Rivas returns to Cerro Porteño after a loan spell at Nacional, adding depth and experience to the squad.
León's journey has been anything but ordinary. From the rural fields of O'Leary to the bright lights of top-flight football, he has already proven he belongs on the big stage. Now, with his sights set even higher, the question is whether Diego León will rise to the challenge and make the leap to a legendary destination like Manchester United.
The whole of Paraguay will be watching.
The post Exclusive: Diego León to Manchester United – Expert view from Paraguay on teen sensation appeared first on Sport Witness.
