Manchester United to conduct medical for new 'Caicedo' on Sunday! Revealed next season's development plan, Carrick won't use him for now

Manchester United are close to finalizing the signing of Cristian Camilo Orozco from Colombian side Fortaleza CEIF. The 17-year-old midfielder is set to travel to Manchester, England on Sunday for a medical and to sign a contract.

United had already secured Orozco back in October last year, with a transfer fee of $1 million. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported: "Manchester United have reached an agreement with Colombian teenage talent Orozco and will sign him. Fortaleza will receive a $1 million transfer fee, with the deal taking effect in the summer 2026 window. United's lawyers have approved the contract, and the transfer was driven by South American chief scout Giuseppe Antonaccio. Everything is complete."

However, as Orozco has not yet turned 18, an international transfer was not possible, so he remained at Fortaleza to continue developing. He still hasn't reached the required age, but since his July 13 birthday is approaching, United have decided to expedite the process to help the young player adapt to his new environment as soon as possible.

Colombian newspaper *As* reported through Pipe Sierra that Orozco will undergo a medical at United on Sunday. This journalist was the first to break the news of United signing Orozco. "17-year-old Orozco will travel to Manchester this Sunday with United scout Antonaccio for a medical and to officially join the club. He will take part in the pre-season training and matches for United's Under-21 team in Germany."

Some have compared Orozco to Chelsea's midfield anchor and Ecuador international Moisés Caicedo, but this is clearly an exaggeration. Their playing styles share some similarities. Orozco attracted European interest due to his performances as captain of Colombia's U17 team during the U17 World Cup. He has an energetic style and excellent tackling ability, earning him the nickname "Colombian Caicedo" because of his physicality and defensive awareness.

However, the under-1.80m Orozco has not even secured regular game time in the Colombian domestic league. He has been named in the first-team matchday squad 11 times but made only four appearances, playing fewer than 200 minutes, with a record of one win and three losses. Therefore, he certainly won't be joining Carrick's Manchester United first team and will instead need to develop in the academy first.

According to the *Manchester Evening News*, once Orozco's registration is completed, United's coaching staff will assess him to determine whether he should join the U18 or U21 level. Given that he will need time to adapt to a new environment after moving from South America, Orozco is likely to remain with the club rather than being sent out on loan.

Orozco's situation is similar to that of Sekou Koné and Diego León, who joined United from Mali in Africa and Paraguay in South America respectively in previous years, both entering the U21 team. The only exception was young forward Enzo Cana-Björk, who was immediately loaned to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's satellite club Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland upon joining United, mainly because he was a French player who already had European experience at Le Havre, so no adaptation to European football was needed.

Among them, Koné, like Orozco, was initially hailed as the "new Essien" or "new Yaya Touré" when he arrived, but his development has not gone as hoped. Koné suffered several injuries and, after over a year in United's youth teams, was also loaned to Lausanne-Sport where he failed to get regular playing time. He still needs to work hard to fulfill his potential.

León was once called up to the first team by Ruben Amorim but his tactical awareness did not meet English football's requirements, so he was sent back to the youth team to refine his skills. Last season, León never made his first-team debut, but this summer he may return to the senior squad due to the World Cup to be assessed by Carrick.

The reason United signed Orozco is that they believe he has the potential to eventually break into the first team. The *Manchester Evening News* reports that after Orozco arrives in Manchester from Colombia, United expect him to need a prolonged adaptation period to get used to a different lifestyle and football style. First, United will arrange English language tutoring for Orozco.

Rumors from TEAMtalk suggest that United are also considering competing for a top young talent who could step into the first team as early as age 17. Mexican World Cup international Gilberto Mora has attracted interest from multiple Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

Mora made his debut for Club Tijuana at just 15 and has since established himself in the first team. He made two appearances in the World Cup, earning praise for his performances. United scouts reportedly watched him play against the Czech Republic at the Mexico City stadium, where his debut was met with a standing ovation from home fans.

Manchester United's youth team has officially announced its withdrawal from the 2026/27 EFL Trophy. Last season, the young Reds failed to advance from the group stage. The club stated that the decision was made because the team will participate in the UEFA Youth League, which is tied to the first team's Champions League qualification. United have decided to downsize the U21 and U18 squads, thus opting out of less important competitions.