sportskeeda
MANCHESTER UNITED has completed the signing of Cristian Orozco, who captains the Colombia Under-17 squad.
The 17-year-old defensive midfielder recently transferred to Fortaleza, but United swiftly moved to finalize the deal before facing any rivals.
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Orozco has played nine games for Colombia’s U17s in 2024, showcasing his status as one of South America’s rising stars.
He is expected to officially join the Red Devils next year when he turns 18 in July, in line with FIFA regulations for international transfers.
United looks to avoid the pitfalls experienced with Moises Caicedo, who they withdrew from signing in 2020 over agent-related complications and a £5.5 million fee, only to later see him join Chelsea for a record British fee of £115 million.
This acquisition emphasizes another strategic South American signing as part of United’s enhanced recruitment efforts, following the addition of 18-year-old left-back Diego Leon.
New director of football Jason Wilcox has made considerable strides in acquiring international talent, with reports suggesting that the club is keeping an eye on Angers’ left-back Dan Sinate, a 19-year-old Mali youth international and compatriot of Sekou Kone, who signed with United last year.
United has streamlined its scouting network, reducing its global search team from over 100 scouts to just ten, with director of recruitment Christopher Vivell taking on a larger role.
This targeted strategy seems to be yielding promising outcomes, with Orozco’s signing signaling a more assertive transfer method at Old Trafford.
The club concluded the last league season in 15th place and has invested significantly in players like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
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They also pursued Benjamin Sesko aggressively, who caught the attention of top clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool over the summer.
However, their performance has been inconsistent, with only two wins so far, and the pressure continues to mount on manager Ruben Amorim following a 3-1 defeat against Brentford.
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Despite these challenges, the club remains committed to backing Amorim in making the necessary improvements.
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