United wonderkid unveils what Carrick told him he “must improve” to make it at Old Trafford, it would save INEOS a fortune

Manchester United youngster Diego Leon is still being asked to wait for his senior chance. According to ManchesterWorld, interim boss Michael Carrick has made it clear that there is more work to do before the teenager is ready for first-team football. Leon, who arrived from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño last summer, signed an initial five-year contract in a deal that could rise to £7 million. Despite this investment, the 18-year-old has not made his debut for the senior side yet. He was, however, an unused substitute on four occasions under former head coach Ruben Amorim. The Paraguay international has not featured in a senior matchday squad since United’s win over Sunderland in early October. That being said, he remains close to the first-team environment. A winter loan was considered for the young full-back, but the club opted to manage his progress at the club. Ever since this decision, he has started seven of the last eight matches for the under-21s, but still uses the senior training facilities nonetheless. Leon reflects on life in Manchester Furthermore, the defender admitted the language barrier was initially hard. He remarked that: “At the beginning it was a bit difficult, honestly. When I first arrived I didn’t understand any English.” Moreover, he observed that this left him uncomfortable both in daily life and at training. After all, Leon and his girlfriend could not understand people when they went out. In addition, he was unable to communicate with his teammates. “That bothered me quite a lot,” he added. “Then I told myself: I have to learn English.” Carrick’s message Meanwhile, Carrick has urged patience, telling Leon to “stay calm” and “try to improve tactically” before expecting a first-team chance. The 44-year-old has also encouraged him to be braver going forward, but only with the right balance, instructing him to “attack more often” while making sure he gets back “with the same intensity.” Leon admitted: “It’s pretty clear that I still have a way to go. I lack maturity, the physical aspect, the tactical and technical aspects, but I feel like I’m improving.” He noted that those around him have tried to keep his progress in perspective, reminding him that adapting after arriving from Paraguay is a massive challenge and that “the Premier League isn’t easy.” Leon discussed that the biggest shock after arriving was “the intensity,” recalling a small-sided game on his first day in which the pace of everything around him felt relentless. “I went to press a player and before I could even get close, the ball was already behind me again,” he explained. “It was very fast. I realised straight away how big the difference is.” The Red Devils may enter the market for another left-back in the summer, but the youngster will still hope that a strong finish to the campaign can leave him well placed to make an impression in pre-season. Featured image Molly Darlington via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, accurate, and source-led news, analysis, opinions, team developments, injuries, press conferences, and matchday reactions. A former secondary school teacher, he now coaches college football (not soccer) and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16-years-old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.