Why Man Utd trumped Real Madrid for teen sensation Leny Yoro

Under the guidance of new minority owners INEOS, Manchester United have been one of the Premier League’s more active clubs in the summer transfer window so far. The Red Devils have already had multiple offers rejected by Everton for England international defender Jarrad Branthwaite, while they finalised the addition of Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee at the weekend. 

Perhaps as a result of Everton playing hardball over Branthwaite, United have since turned their attention to 18-year-old Lille centre-back Leny Yoro. Up until now, reports had suggested Yoro would hold out for his ‘dream’ move to European champions Real Madrid, but it was revealed on Wednesday morning that the Frenchman is set to travel for a medical after United agreed a €62 million fee with Lille. 

So, why has Yoro been in such high demand, and how would he fit in at United under Erik ten Hag? 

The 18-year-old truly broke into the Lille first-team towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, having made his debut the season before aged just 16, making eight starts and five appearances from the bench as Les Dogues finished fifth in the French top-flight. 

Yoro’s promise was clear to see despite such little playing time, and in the season just gone (2023/24), the defender cemented himself as one of football’s most exciting young talents.  

For a teenager in his first full, professional league campaign, Yoro excelled under Paulo Fonseca, playing with the maturity and calmness of a seasoned pro. At 6ft2in, the Frenchman was always well prepared physically to deal with the demands of the men’s game, but it is his technical prowess that sets him apart from his age-mates, and indeed many of the defenders across Europe’s top five leagues. 

Yoro is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet, attempting an average of 63.3 passes per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last term. What’s more impressive is how accurate the teenager is with his distribution; of the 93 players to start at least 25 matches in the French top-flight last season, Yoro’s 92.2% pass success rate ranks first. 

Along with his technical ability, Yoro’s reading of the game is impressive beyond his years. The 18-year-old averaged 1.2 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per 90 in 2023/24, playing alongside Alexandro Ribeiro at the heart of the Lille backline, while keeping the highly-rated Bafode Diakite and World Cup winner Samuel Umtiti out of the side. 

Given his youth, it would be quite the surprise if Yoro did not arrive at Old Trafford this summer with parts of his game to improve upon. The teenager has done well to adapt to the pressures of senior football in Ligue 1, particularly in a physical sense, but those expectations will be ramped up further in the Premier League next season. 

Yoro’s assured approach to the game, similar in some respects to that of Arsenal centre-back William Saliba, does not see him dive into a large number of tackles or aerial duels. The 18-year-old will often use his pace to out-run an opposing attacker and recover possession, rather than challenge them directly. 

While such a technique has proven to work well in France, Yoro will no doubt be aware of the stylistic differences in England. The physical side of his game will require work, but like with every challenge presented throughout his very young career so far, the teenager will be backed to make the step up seamlessly.  

The Frenchman may well see a proposed move to United as the perfect opportunity to prove himself further - in one of Europe’s most demanding, high-pressure divisions - ahead of an eventual ‘dream’ move to Madrid a few years down the line. 

But to secure the signature of Yoro ahead of Real Madrid - the club most well-renowned for hoovering up the globe’s best young talent - would be a major coup for United, and signal a real gear-change in their recruitment strategy, compared with the scatter-gun approach of recent seasons.