Juan Angulo: Ecuadorian wonderkid’s future unveiled as Man United circle
Juan Angulo: Ecuadorian wonderkid’s future unveiled as Man United circle Manchester United face a fierce battle with Europe’s elite to sign 18-year-old forward Juan Riquelme Angulo, according to transfer expert Ben Jacobs. “The Next Big Thing” Angulo is considered one of the standout prospects in South America after bursting onto the scene for Independiente del Valle, one of the powerhouses in Ecuadorian football. Nicknamed El Matagigantes (The Giant-Killers), Independiente’s academy is a hotbed for young talent, with Chelsea duo Moises Caicedo – a player United came agonisingly close to signing – and Kendry Paez having been signed from the club.
Arsenal full-back Piero Hincapie and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back William Pacho also hail from Independiente, with both defenders having shone in the Champions League this season. More recently, three other highly-rated prospects to leave for Europe in the last year are: Deinner Ordonez (16, CB) – Sold to Chelsea, due to join in 2028 Edwin Quintero (16, RW) and Holger Quintero (16, AM) – Twins, sold to Arsenal, due to join in 2027 Johan Martinez (16, LW) – Sold to Newcastle, due to join in 2028 Angulo is the Ecuadorian club’s latest offering: a 6’3 striker with a potent pairing of speed and strength that lends itself perfectly to the Premier League. While his experience is naturally limited, he has already demonstrated the profile of a No.
9 every major club covets. Speaking to the United Stand , Jacobs describes Angulo as the “real deal”, with a host of clubs across Europe rivalling to secure his signature. However, as the San Lorenzo native is already 18, he would be able to join immediately, in contrast to his younger teammates who are forced to wait due to Brexit rules on youth players.
This makes him a far more attractive prospect, with the talkSPORT reporter revealing Angulo is close to being ready to make the jump to Europe this summer. “He is the next big thing,” Jacobs concludes. United join the race United are understood to be keeping a close eye on Angulo as a target who has impressed scouts.
And while a new forward may not seem an urgent priority at Old Trafford, given the presence of Benjamin Sesko , INEOS have consistently tried to sign the best young talent from across the globe since taking the helm in 2024. The queue is growing for the Ecuadorian starlet, however, with Jacobs revealing a “lot of top European clubs” are interested. Iit is FC Barcelona who are said to be leading the charge, however, with the Spanish giants ready to “make a massive push” for a young striker as Robert Lewandowski’s glittering career draws closer to an end at Camp Nou.