---
title: "Forgotten defender handed Manchester United chance as defensive crisis opens door"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2026/10/04/diego-leon-manchester-united-left-back/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Shumail Sajid"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2026-10-04T11:15:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-04T11:15:00Z"
---

# Forgotten defender handed Manchester United chance as defensive crisis opens door

**Manchester United’s problems at left-back have given Diego Leon a chance to put himself in front of Michael Carrick, even if only for one night.**

With a large number of first-team players away on international duty, [Michael Carrick](https://readmanutd.com/tag/michael-carrick/) had limited options for Friday’s [behind-closed-doors friendly against Lausanne-Sport](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/baleba-gets-first-taste-of-united-action). The absences also created an opening for Diego Leon, who finally got his first minutes under the United head coach.

The 19-year-old replaced the unavailable options at left-back and featured in the makeshift side that won 2-1.

## **Diego Leon gets rare chance to impress Carrick**

Diego Leon arrived at [Manchester United](https://readmanutd.com/tag/manchester-united/) in 2025 with plenty of attention around him. The club had agreed his move six months before he officially joined, paying an initial £3.3 million to Cerro Porteno, with the fee potentially rising to £7m, [as claimed by Manchester Evening News](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-uniteds-7m-youngster-handed-34713660).

The Paraguayan had already played 33 first-team matches for Cerro Porteno before turning 18, but his progress at United has been slower.

He made 17 starts for the Under-21s last season and also featured twice in the EFL Trophy. This season, though, he had not played a minute in United’s opening three Premier League 2 matches.

[Harry Amass](https://readmanutd.com/squad/harry-amass/) has been ahead of him in the Under-21 pecking order, while Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui have also affected his opportunities.

Amass was away with England when Leon got his opening, giving the youngster a chance he badly needed.

[Luke Shaw](https://readmanutd.com/squad/luke-shaw/) has fitness concerns of his own, while [Patrick Dorgu](https://readmanutd.com/squad/patrick-dorgu/) and [Noussair Mazraoui](https://readmanutd.com/squad/noussair-mazraoui/) were also injured in the recent international break. This gives Diego Leon an outside chance to have a go at some minutes at left-back against Tottenham.

Whether the appearance changes Carrick’s thinking remains to be seen. Leon is still raw, and regular football with the Under-21s is the immediate priority. Still, impressing the first-team boss certainly can put him in contention to feature against Tottenham.