Diego Leon has had a literal rags to riches rise.

His childhood in a remote part of Paraguay was spent kicking a ball made of rolled up rags because his parents couldn't afford a football. This summer he'll join Manchester United.

Still only 17, Leon's move to Manchester is somewhat surprising given his limited senior experience, absence of full time United scouts in Paraguay and his lack of international football that would have pushed him onto the global stage.

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But United have seen something in the teenage protege who will be granted time to bed in at Old Trafford with a view to progressing to the first team. The left back has impressed for Cerro Porteño and his agent has links to the Premier League having helped broker moves for Fabian Balbuena to West Ham and Diego Gomez to Brighton.

Leon will officially link up with United in the summer and his talent, age and physical stature have drawn comparisons with Wayne Rooney while the player himself looks to former Real Madrid and Brazil star Marcelo as inspiration.

"He is an accurate, attacking left back that isn’t scared to shoot at goal," said, Ralph Hannah, co-host of the English speaking Paraguayan football podcast Guaraní Vision, when chatting to the Manchester Evening News.

"So far he has always played in a back four as an attacking left back, but his athleticism would suggest he would have the legs for wing back. His U17s coach Badayco Maciel told me he could play left wing. The main question marks will be tactically if he could adapt quick enough.

"For United fans his shaved head and hunched shoulders that make his seem much older than he is and are reminiscent of a teenage Rooney."

While no-one is expecting him to have the impact Rooney had at United, Leon is a confident footballer who offers leadership and physicality while he plays in a position where United have a long-term vacancy.

"I think the fact left backs are in such short supply and his natural physicality which could allow him to play as wing back are huge advantages," added Hannah.

"There are of course so many variables, especially injuries which hampered other young talents like Sergio Diaz (at Real Madrid) or Derlis Gonzalez (Basel/Benfica/Dinamo Kyiv but has spent most of career back in Paraguay) - but the talent and mentality seem to suggest he can be a success in Europe.

"The big question mark will be on adaptability, we have seen young players struggle with the demands of English football (Braian Ojeda at Forest, Enso Gonzalez at Wolves) added to that the language and homesickness. You would hope that by using him first in academy before throwing into first team will help with that adaptation period.

"His coaches have described him as very confident and a natural leader. He was captain while in the Under-17s. That confidence in his own ability was demonstrated when he burst onto scene in top division football by scoring goals and not just keeping clean sheets. It does remind you of Rooney a bit when you think about it!"

For Leon, his journey from remote Paraguay to the capital has already been a challenging one, both literally and metaphorically. Having played football with cloths as a youngster, he's now aiming to cut his cloth in Manchester.