Ruben Amorim has already had to manage workloads carefully, with Luke Shaw’s ongoing reliability issues limiting continuity on the left side and forcing repeated tactical adjustments.
Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have both been asked to fill roles outside their natural strengths at different points, while injuries have continued to disrupt rhythm and balance across the back line.
With fixtures piling up and rotation becoming unavoidable, the club’s long-term planning at full-back has come back into focus.
United’s academy pathway has often been cited as a solution in such moments, especially given the club’s stated commitment to developing internal options rather than relying solely on the market.
At the youth level this season, the Under-18 side has remained competitive, with several defenders trusted in advanced roles and encouraged to play on the front foot rather than sit deep.
One young left-sided defender, in particular, has quietly remained close to the senior environment, training regularly but finding competitive minutes harder to come by.
The challenge has not been talent or application, but opportunity, especially in a squad already stretched and under pressure for results.
That player is Diego León.
According to Sportwitness, journalist Christian Martin has reported growing concern around León’s lack of match exposure, noting that while the club would prefer him to stay, the player is increasingly conscious that minutes are vital if he is to remain in Paraguay’s international plans.
The Paraguayan left-back officially joined Manchester United from Cerro Porteño in a deal agreed in 2024, reported to be worth around £3.3 million initially, with performance-based add-ons that could take the total closer to £7 million.
León arrived with a strong reputation from South America, having already featured at a senior level in Paraguay before moving to England and being integrated into United’s academy structure.
Since his arrival, he has primarily featured for the Under-18s, where he has been used as an aggressive, attack-minded full-back, comfortable carrying the ball over distance and stepping into midfield zones.
Earlier this season, he caught attention with a solo goal at the Under-18 level, driving forward from deep, beating multiple defenders and finishing calmly, a moment that highlighted both his confidence and technical quality.
Despite training regularly with the first team, competitive senior minutes have not followed, a situation that has now been complicated by the approaching 2026 World Cup cycle.
At 18, León finds himself at a crossroads, valued by United for his long-term potential, yet facing immediate pressure to play regularly, with a loan or temporary move now a genuine possibility if his pathway remains blocked.