Orozco: How midfielder is showing at Man Utd why he is 'next big star' from Colombia

Cristian Orozco is seen as the next big star in Colombia and he is already showing reasons why for Manchester United.

The 18-year-old midfielder has made his first appearance in a United shirt, for the Under-21s in a pre-season friendly against Altrincham as he began the next chapter of his promising career.

He came on for 30 minutes in the second half after arriving at Old Trafford this summer following a move from Colombian side Fortaleza CEIF.

And in that short amount of time he showed why United have put so much belief in him.

Orozco looked comfortable in possession and already appears physically ready to compete in the demanding Premier League.

While little will have been known about Orozco in the the UK he is already capturing headline in Colombia where he has captained the Under-17 national side.

Against Altrincham he showed maturity and composure as well as his technical ability which have led to so many scouts to talk about him.

His former Colombia youth coach Álvaro Escobar has spoken glowingly about Orozco's character, describing him as a natural leader despite his young age.

"He is a leader that has seen him become the captain of the U17 Colombian national team. He is very composed and listens to what you say, he does not get upset when corrected," said Escobar.

"It has been a real pleasure to train him and I was really pleased when I found out he was going to Manchester United."

That view is also felt by Campo Elías Santacruz, who coached Orozco during his early development at Rojo FC.

"With his character and style of play, he became a key player in the Under-15 and Under-17 teams," he said.

"Despite being so young, he always showed leadership in every training session. He worked extremely hard and, both on and off the pitch, behaved with the maturity of a much older player."

United's pursuit of Orozco underlined just how highly they rate the teenager.

The club agreed a deal for the midfielder well before he was eligible to move to England, with FIFA regulations preventing the transfer from being completed until he turned 18.

Rather than looking elsewhere, United remained patient, confident they had identified one of Colombia's brightest young prospects.

That patience has now been rewarded, with Orozco beginning his development at Carrington alongside the club's highly-rated Under-21 squad.

Orozco is not the type of player who regularly grabs the headlines with spectacular goals or flashy skills. Instead, he excels in the less glamorous side of midfield play.

Comfortable operating as a No.6, he specialises in breaking up attacks, reading danger, winning possession and moving the ball quickly to more creative teammates.

His calmness under pressure and tactical intelligence have been praised throughout his youth career, while his physical profile suggests he is well equipped to cope with the demands of English football.

Speaking after completing his move to United, Orozco acknowledged that adapting to a new country and a new league would be his biggest challenge.

"I know my strengths are my physicality and my technique," he said. "Everything is about adapting. I'm very young and that's what I'll need to do. I want to arrive and learn as quickly as possible so I can show my level."

No one expects Orozco to make an immediate breakthrough into Michael Carrick's senior squad.

The club's priority is giving him time to settle into life in England while continuing his football education with the Under-21s.

Recent arrivals have followed a similar route, gaining valuable minutes in academy football before pushing for opportunities at senior level.

For Orozco, every appearance will provide another chance to adapt to the speed, intensity and physicality of English football.

His debut against Altrincham was only the first step, but it was an important one. United believe they have signed a midfielder with the tools to develop into a top player.