Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Colombian youngster Cristian Orozco. Here is a look at how he is developing ahead of his move to Old Trafford.
Orozco will officially make the move to England once he turns 18 in the summer of 2026, but United secured his signature long before then.
He had already caught their eye before the Under-17s World Cup, and his performances during the tournament only added to their confidence in the deal.
Since then, Orozco has been back with his club in Colombia, working through the final months before making the jump to Europe. And he seems to have taken another important step forward during that time.
Cristian Orozco makes his first senior appearance
Orozco is under contract with Fortaleza, who play in the top tier of Colombian football, having previously been with Rojo CF.
The 17-year-old has now made his senior debut for Fortaleza, coming on as a substitute late in the match.
The teenager was introduced in the 83rd minute during a 4-1 loss away to Atletico Nacional.
Although his time on the pitch was limited, he did get one shot away – though it was blocked – and completed all three of his pass attempts.
Fortaleza, who were already down to ten men by that point, currently sit 13th in the league. Atletico Nacional are fifth, with former Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos scoring twice in this match.
Looking ahead, Fortaleza’s next fixture is on Monday when Orozco could have the opportunity to make his first home appearance for the club.
Cristian Orozco getting playing time before Manchester United move
For Orozco, picking up senior minutes before his move to Manchester United is going to be a valuable part of his development.
The next few months will give the young midfielder a good run of games at a higher level before he joins United in July.
He is expected to start off with the academy and work his way up from there. There is also a decent chance he will get some playing time during pre-season.
Back in December, Orozco spent some time at the club. He watched a match at Old Trafford, took a look around Carrington, and even joined training sessions with both the under-18s and under-21s.
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