'He told me': 18yo wonderkid reveals what Carrick told him to do to break into the Man Utd first team

Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has delivered a clear message to teenage defender Diego Leon about what he must do to break into the first team.

Diego Leon completed his move to Old Trafford from Cerro Porteno for an initial fee of £3.2 million, which could rise to £7m with add-ons.

He has been on the bench with the senior team on a few occasions but has yet to make his debut.

He is currently playing regularly at the Under-21 level to adapt to English conditions.

Leon has revealed that Carrick has urged him to sharpen his tactical understanding before he can earn a genuine opportunity with the senior squad.

He said (via vssports.com): “He told me to stay calm, to try to improve tactically and to attack more often, but when I attack I also have to come back with the same intensity.

“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.”

The 18-year-old was close to joining INEOS-owned OGC Nice on loan in the winter transfer window.

However, United ultimately decided that his development would be better served by continuing with the youth setup for now.

He has played nine times in the Premier League 2 this season and scored a sensational goal against Tottenham Hotspur last October.

Leon is an energetic defender who loves to contribute in the final third but he is too raw to play at a senior level for a club like United.

The United faithful would be desperate to see him at Old Trafford but Leon should be sent on loan next season to get experience.

Regular minutes in EFL League One or the EFL Championship could play a vital role in shaping him into a more complete defender.

Left-back is a problematic area for the Red Devils and they could look to sign a more experienced solution in the summer transfer window.

Stats from Fotmob.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .