Man Utd are set to complete the signing of a talented young midfielder, who they agreed a deal to sign last year.
Manchester United will formally announce Cristian Orozco’s transfer when his move is completed this month. Last year, United struck a preliminary agreement with Fortaleza CEIF that outlined that Orozco would sign in the summer window.
Orozco will celebrate his 18th birthday on July 13, when United can formally register him as a player. The midfielder will arrive in Manchester before that date in order to acclimatise and be ready to start on the 13th.
The Reds announced similar signings of Sekou Kone, Diego Leon and Enzo Kana-Biyik last year. Kone and Leon both spent a season with the U21s after signing from clubs in Mali and Paraguay respectively. Kana-Biyik was immediately sent on loan to Ineos-owned Lausanne Sport, but he arrived from France.
Having come through Le Havre’s academy, Kana-Biyik already had experience of European football which enabled him to be sent on loan, but Kone and Leon were given time to get up to speed after coming from different continents.
Orozco is expected to require a similar period of adaptation as he settles into life in Manchester after switching from Colombia. United will provide English lessons for the youngster.
United are signing Orozco because they believe he possesses first-team potential, but Kone, Leon and Kana-Biyik were all of the same mould, and none have been given their first-team debuts so far at United.
The club’s recent signings of young players from abroad who possess high potential are seen as low-risk and high-reward.
United have widened their academy recruitment in recent years due to Brexit rules, which prevent them from signing players from Europe.
Orozco was involved with Fortaleza CEIF’s first-team last season. He was included in 11 senior squads, which saw him make two appearances from the bench in Colombia’s top-flight, along with two starts.
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