Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon were both spotted during Manchester United’s first session for pre-season this week but only one of them had a squad number on their shirt.
Manchester United returned to Carrington this week as Ruben Amorim’s side prepare for an important campaign following on from their disastrous 2024/25 season.
There have not been as many changes as most would have expected by the start of pre-season but Amorim does have two new players through the door.
Matheus Cunha agreed to join the club at the beginning of last month and is an exciting signing for the Reds after netting 15 goals in the Premier League for Wolves last term.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old fullback Diego Leon is a talented player United signed from Cerro Porteño last week and he is hoping to push for first-team involvement next season.
Why United have not confirmed Leon shirt number
Both Cunha and Leon were spotted at Carrington on Monday for United’s first training session of pre-season and it was announced that Cunha would be the club’s new no.10.
The Brazilian international had the iconic number on his training shirt but fans quickly noticed that Leon was still wearing a numberless kit.
United have not announced Leon’s shirt number and that could be for a variety of reasons, but the teenager might be waiting for his favoured option to become available.
During his breakthrough in Paraguay, Leon wore the no.37 for Cerro Porteño but United Academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo currently wears that strip.
The new signing could be eyeing that shirt number if Mainoo opts to get a new one this season, with the no.14 being a potential option for the midfielder after Christian Eriksen’s departure.
Leon impresses Amorim during first United session
Shirt number or no shirt number, Leon had one focus as he entered the building at Carrington this week: to impress Amorim and his coaches.
It seems like he’s off to a good start after club reporters noted that the teenager’s ‘great intensity’ on the training pitch left the Portuguese boss with a beaming smile.
Read More: Jadon Sancho call today – What Manchester United and Juventus are discussing during new negotiations
Leon will likely be involved in United’s first friendly game against Leeds on 19 July, and by that point it is almost certain that he will have a confirmed shirt number.
If he does not end up getting his preferred no.37, there are plenty of options for Leon, with the numbers between 27 and 35 all available to take.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.