The next Ronaldo? Man Utd track wonderkid hoping to follow in Cristiano’s footsteps

Milan Keskin

• 9 Feb 2024 10:25 GMT
• 2 min read

Manchester United are among the clubs following 17-year-old wonderkid Leo Fajardo, according to reports from Portugal.

The Casa Pia teenager was scouted by a number of European giants as he turned out for his club’s U17 side in an encounter against Benfica, with United one of the clubs foremost among the crowd.

Fajardo is the absolute gem in the Casa Pia U17 side this season, with the small club’s academy club going well this season. Although minnows compared to Benfica and Porto, they finished the first half of the season just behind these clubs, largely because of Fajardo’s contribution. In the 17 games he has played this season, he has scored 20 goals.

The striker played in Porto's youth academy in recent seasons but he wanted to return to Lisbon to live closer to his family. Casa Pia offered this opportunity and he is now reaping the benefits of this decision.

According to A Bola, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Ajax are already keeping close tabs on the young prodigy. There is competition from Lisbon giants Benfica and Sporting CP, who are also watching the teenager.

If Fajardo departs during the summer, it is unlikely that he will be thrust into the first-team picture at a club like Man Utd or PSG, with the youngster having not tasted professional football yet.

Following Cristiano’s example

Should Fajardo move to Old Trafford, parallels will inevitably be drawn with Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined the Red Devils as a 17-year-old as he began a career that would lead him to undisputed greatness.

Ronaldo also plied his trade in Lisbon as an attacker before joining United, having turned out for Sporting, but the future Man Utd and Real Madrid great was further down his career path, having already played a season of first-team football before departing for the Premier League.