“The real deal”: United burst into race for incredible 6’3 striker taking South America by storm – Ben Jacobs

Manchester United face a fierce battle with Europe’s elite to sign 18-year-old forward Juan Riquelme Angulo, according to transfer expert Ben Jacobs. “The Next Big Thing” Angulo is considered one of the standout prospects in South America after bursting onto the scene for Independiente del Valle, one of the powerhouses in Ecuadorian football. Nicknamed El Matagigantes (The Giant-Killers), Independiente’s academy is a hotbed for young talent, with Chelsea duo Moises Caicedo – a player United came agonisingly close to signing – and Kendry Paez having been signed from the club. Arsenal full-back Piero Hincapie and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back William Pacho also hail from Independiente, with both defenders having shone in the Champions League this season. More recently, three other highly-rated prospects to leave for Europe in the last year are: Deinner Ordonez (16, CB) – Sold to Chelsea, due to join in 2028 Edwin Quintero (16, RW) and Holger Quintero (16, AM) – Twins, sold to Arsenal, due to join in 2027 Johan Martinez (16, LW) – Sold to Newcastle, due to join in 2028 Angulo is the Ecuadorian club’s latest offering: a 6’3 striker with a potent pairing of speed and strength that lends itself perfectly to the Premier League. While his experience is naturally limited, he has already demonstrated the profile of a No.9 every major club covets. Speaking to the United Stand, Jacobs describes Angulo as the “real deal”, with a host of clubs across Europe rivalling to secure his signature. However, as the San Lorenzo native is already 18, he would be able to join immediately, in contrast to his younger teammates who are forced to wait due to Brexit rules on youth players. This makes him a far more attractive prospect, with the talkSPORT reporter revealing Angulo is close to being ready to make the jump to Europe this summer. “He is the next big thing,” Jacobs concludes. United join the race United are understood to be keeping a close eye on Angulo as a target who has impressed scouts. And while a new forward may not seem an urgent priority at Old Trafford, given the presence of Benjamin Sesko, INEOS have consistently tried to sign the best young talent from across the globe since taking the helm in 2024. The queue is growing for the Ecuadorian starlet, however, with Jacobs revealing a “lot of top European clubs” are interested. But it’s FC Barcelona who are said to be leading the charge, with the Spanish giants ready to “make a massive push” for a young striker as Robert Lewandowski’s glittering career draws closer to an end at Camp Nou. The Poland international turns 38 in the summer, and while a one-year extension is in the works, plans are already underway for the Blaugrana to source his long-term successor – with Angulo fitting the bill. Final Thoughts To this day, United executives will feel an acute pang of regret every time the club faces Chelsea, with Caicedo at the heart of the Blues’ midfield, that a deal for the 24-year-old enforcer was not struck when he was still plying his trade in Ecuador. The Red Devils will be loath to let history repeat itself this summer by allowing Angulo to arrive in Europe anywhere other than Old Trafford. But they will have to quickly escalate their interest into a reality to fend off Barcelona to do so. Featured image Alex Livesey 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 Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.