Manchester United’s interest in an Ecuadorian youngster is said to be growing after initial interest reports last week.
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a minority stake in Manchester United, the club have put emphasis on signing young players, who could join the first team in a few years’ time.
The first examples were Ayden Heaven, Sékou Koné and Chido Obi. All three have been involved with Rúben Amorim’s senior squad, while Heaven has started the last two Premier League games in the absence of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.
Diego Leon was the most high-profile youngster to join in the summer, but he was just one of many to walk through the door at Old Trafford. Another to sign was Enzo Kana-Biyik – he was immediately loaned to INEOS-owned Lausanne-Sport.
Jason Wilcox and the recruitment team appear to have already begun preparations for next summer, with Christian Orozoco’s transfer now confirmed. He joins the impressive midfield talent in United’s academy, but another is already on the radar.
Wilcox eyeing Castillo
The next young talent on United’s radar seems to be Ederson Castillo. He is an Ecuadorian midfielder who has already played for L.D.U Quito’s first team, despite only turning 17 years old on Wednesday.
An Ecuadorian reporter confirmed United’s interest: “The interest from Manchester United in Ederson Castillo is growing more and more.
“In March, he renewed with Liga Deportiva Universitaria for three seasons. He debuted at fifteen years old with Pablo ‘Vitamina’ Sánchez, who was the one who gave him the opportunity.
“He’s a player who just turned seventeen on Wednesday. He was a standout in the under-19 championship with Liga Deportiva Universitaria. The coach likes him too because they’ve seen precisely the personality he has to play in midfield; he finds body posture in addition to the interpretation to find those spaces.”
She continued to say: “This kid has a good future, who, in June, had an internship at Anderlecht for two weeks. What is another team? That was scouting Ederson Castillo, let’s see at the end of the season what will be.”
United must focus on Carrington talent
Castillo is another midfielder who would likely play in the double pivot in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, should he make it to the senior team.
However, United’s academy options in that area are stacked: Koné, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Jayce Fitzgerlad, Jacob Devaney, Amir Ibragimov, and that’s just the under-21s.
Signing young talent from abroad will always be exciting, and it does show that United are attempting to keep up with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, but they cannot forget about the talent already at the club.
Carrington is an academy system like no other in England, so use it. Don’t overcrowd it and forget about some quality players already there.
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