Manchester United confirm arrival of Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco
United confirm Orozco signing
Manchester United have officially announced the signing of Cristian Orozco, an 18-year-old Colombian defensive midfielder. The club confirmed his arrival from Colombian side Fortaleza CEIF in a statement, noting he is an “exciting young midfielder.” Orozco’s transfer was finalised after he turned 18 on July 13, in line with FIFA regulations.
The deal for Orozco had been in progress for nearly a year, with Manchester United reaching an agreement to sign him last September. He continued to play for Fortaleza FC in Colombia’s top division until his recent move to England.
Orozco made his debut for United‘s Under-21 side in a pre-season friendly against Altrincham FC. He was introduced from the bench in the second half of the match. Reports indicate that he is expected to feature regularly for the Under-21s as he adapts to life in England, with a view to progressing to the senior squad in the future.
Settling into Carrington
Sources within Manchester United have stated that the club intends to take a gradual approach with Orozco’s development. While he is considered to be more physically mature than some previous academy signings from outside Europe, the club recognises he still requires time to adjust to his new environment.
Orozco’s physical attributes are noted as a potential asset for adapting to English football. Unlike some previous academy recruits who needed gym programmes to build muscle, Orozco is described as already possessing a physique that could aid his transition.
Communication with Orozco has been facilitated by Spanish-speaking players within the squad, such as Diego Leon, as Orozco is not yet fluent in English. This support is part of the club’s strategy to help him settle in.
Before his official unveiling, Orozco visited the city and the club’s facilities, including Old Trafford and the training ground. He expressed his excitement about joining the club, describing it as fulfilling a childhood dream. He also highlighted the importance of learning English quickly to adapt and showcase his abilities.
Orozco suggested he has signed a five-year deal with the club. He is only the second Colombian player to join Manchester United, following Radamel Falcao.
Youth team developments
In other academy news, midfielder Jim Thwaites is set to remain with Manchester United‘s Under-21s for the upcoming season. There are no current plans for him to go out on loan. He will continue to train with the senior squad when selected, aiming for a competitive senior debut.
Michael Carrick, who has been a strong advocate for the academy, has given opportunities to several young players during pre-season. Thwaites was included in the senior squad for a trip to Stockholm, which was seen as a compliment to his progress.
Another midfielder, Jacob Devaney, is attracting interest from Championship clubs and teams in Europe for a loan move. Devaney received praise from Carrick for his performances in pre-season, where he demonstrated versatility by playing as a centre-half.
Devaney‘s reputation grew significantly during a loan spell with St Mirren last season, where he started nearly every game in the Scottish topflight. This experience has positioned him for a loan at a higher level in the new campaign.
The Under-21s have also been active in pre-season, including a 4-0 victory against Burnley in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington. They are scheduled to play further friendlies against Aston Villa and Ipswich before the start of their league campaign, which is set to begin against Ipswich.
Additionally, Everton has shown interest in signing United academy striker Ethan Wheatley. This interest is reportedly aimed at strengthening their academy with the goal of preparing him for their first team. Nick Cox, formerly United‘s academy chief and now Everton‘s technical director, is said to be a strong admirer of Wheatley.
Wheatley, who is 20 years old, spent last season on loan in League One. The club’s academy has consistently held him in high regard, with one coach stating two years ago, “If you drew a No.9, you’d draw him looking like Ethan.”
Manchester United has also brought in two first-team midfielders this summer: Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. Santos has performed well in pre-season matches against Wrexham, Rosenborg, and Atletico Madrid. Tielemans has joined his new teammates after representing Belgium and could make his debut in Saturday’s friendly against Paris Saint-Germain.
Source: si.com
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
