Diego Leon’s potential shirt number at Man United means £7m signing can follow in footsteps of ‘quality’ star

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Diego Leon is aiming to impress in pre-season after signing as a Manchester United player this summer.

It was confirmed over the weekend that Diego Leon has signed in a £3.2m deal from Cerro Porteno, with add-ons potentially taking the fee up to £7m.

Leon joins as United’s second major signing of the summer after Matheus Cunha, but it has been known for months that the 18-year-old Paraguayan defender would be joining this summer.

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Ahead of his move, Leon said he’s determined to impress in pre-season and stick around with the first team with talk that he could be loaned out next season to gain experience.

Diego Leon potential shirt number at Man United

Leon becomes the latest young player signed under Ineos’ new transfer strategy, and now he can spend the summer trying to win over Ruben Amorim and his backroom staff.

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The Paraguayan full-back, who will likely play wing-back in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, is expected to join the pre-season tour of the United States this summer.

United are participating in the Premier League Summer Series, where Leon can potentially pick up some important minutes and prove his worth to Amorim.

In Paraguay, Leon wore the No.37 shirt at Cerro Porteno, but at United it is currently taken by academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo.

However, Mainoo could change numbers this summer to represent his importance in the first team. That would free up the No.37 to be handed to Leon – a number he is familiar with.

Diego Leon will hope to have Kobbie Mainoo impact in pre-season

Mainoo is now a first-team regular at United and his value has soared to £70m amid talks of interest from Chelsea this summer.

But the 20-year-old midfielder first made his breakthrough on tour in pre-season. Mainoo starred in pre-season in America under Ten Hag before the Dutchman promoted him to the first team dressing room.

Unfortunately, Mainoo suffered an injury in pre-season which delayed his breakthrough, but he impressed Ten Hag enough over the summer that he eventually was given his chance.

After that, he never looked back and Mainoo has been hailed as “quality” since becoming a regular at Old Trafford.

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With Leon wanting to avoid going out on loan next season, he will hope to have the same impact as United’s No.37 this summer so that he can remain with Amorim’s first-team squad in 2025/26.

With Tyrell Malacia likely to leave, Leon could be kept around to compete with both Patrick Dorgu and Luke Shaw for a starting spot at left wing-back.