Cristian Orozco is the latest example of Manchester United’s drive to unearth raw talent from around the globe. If justification was needed for recruiting one of Colombia’s rising stars then look no further than Moises Caicedo.
United led the chase for Caicedo nearly five years ago, but didn’t commit to signing the teenage midfielder from Ecuador. Brighton bought him from Independiente del Valle for £4million and sold Caicedo to Chelsea two-and-a-half years later for a then British record £115m.
While there are no guarantees whatsoever that Orozco can be the next Caicedo, it goes some way to explaining why United have intensified their search for young talent since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover last year.
Speaking shortly after his £1.25billion investment was ratified, Ratcliffe explained: ‘I think in a way what I would rather do is try to sign the next (Kylian) Mbappe than spend a fortune trying to buy success.
‘It’s not that clever buying Mbappe, anyone can figure that one out. What’s much more challenging is to find the next Mbappe or (Jude) Bellingham or Roy Keane.’
Since then, Chido Obi, Diego Leon, Ayden Heaven and Sekou Kone have all been signed as part of a recruitment strategy aimed at identifying emerging players who can go on to play for United’s first-team or prove to be a good investment.
Man United have agreed a pre-contract with 17-year-old Colombian starlet Cristian Orozco (pictured)
Man United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) and director of football Jason Wilcox (left) are attempting to unearth the next big stars from around the globe
United are hoping Orozco could become the next Moises Caicedo (pictured), who they once had an interest in
Driven by director of football Jason Wilcox, who has experience of a similar model at Manchester City, and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who has a history of discovering exciting young talent at the Red Bull franchise and Chelsea, the initiative has the backing of the United hierarchy.
Orozco is the latest prospect identified by United’s global scouting network and signed by the club. A defensive midfielder for Fortaleza, he has represented Colombia through the youth ranks and captained his country to the final of the South American Under-17 Championship this summer where they were beaten by Brazil on penalties.
Orozco has signed a pre-contract and will become a United player when he turns 18 next July. The deal is similar to the one that saw Leon move to Old Trafford from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno this summer after a deal worth up to £7m was agreed in January.
Leon made his first competitive appearance in a United shirt when he played the first 45 minutes of Sunday’s Under-21s game at Liverpool, but has yet to make a senior debut despite being in two matchday squads.
Obi and Heaven, both recruited from Arsenal, broke into the first-team last season but are currently back training with the academy. Mali youth international Kone is still recovering from a serious head injury sustained playing for the Under-21s against Tamworth last month.
Recently, Senegal Under-17s internationals Mouhamed Dabo and Etienne Mendy have been on trial at the club as the search continues.
United have a proud tradition of youth development, having named a homegrown player in their matchday squad for the last 4,328 matches stretching back 88 years to October 1937.
But while there is no doubt that youth has been the club’s lifeblood for so long – from the Busby Babes through to the Class of ’92 – United haven’t always had the best value out of the young players who end up leaving.
United’s recruitment drive saw them bring in Chido Obi (left) and Ayden Heaven (right) from Arsenal last season
The sale of Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea of £40m showed United can also make money from young talent they unearth
The £40m from Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Chelsea last month was by far the biggest transfer fee United have received for an academy player.
By creating a pool of talent recruited from around the world, United hope to not only continue supplying the first-team but also make some sound investments, in much the same way that City and Chelsea have benefitted financially in recent years.
In some respects not much has changed: United have always had a strong scouting network and provided a pathway for young players from home and abroad. However, the move for Orozco is another example of a more proactive drive to identify and sign young players from around the world.
The emerging talent group is now a recognised entity at the club, made up of players spotted by United’s strong scouting network and homegrown stars who are on the cusp of the senior side.
The group has its own dedicated dressing-room in the first-team building at Carrington which re-opened this summer after a £50m upgrade. Many of them will train regularly with the senior squad while continuing to play for the academy.
Next summer they will be joined by Orozco. It would be unfair to bill him as the next Caicedo, but United believe it will prove to be a wise move either way.
