Leny Yoro reveals how private talks with Man Utd legend helped his career take off

After his brilliant 2023-24 season with Lille, there was not a major European club without an interest in Leny Yoro. But with the teenage defender’s contract expiring in the summer of 2025, he bore all the hallmarks of a free transfer target.

He ticked an awful lot of Bernabeu boxes. But and INEOS acted decisively, knowing it would take big money - both in terms of transfer fee and salary - to tempt Yoro to Old Trafford.

But in the form of a £52million fee and a five-year deal that started at £150,000 for an 18-year-old defender, they tabled big money. A pre-season injury was part of an unfortunate start to Yoro’s United career and he was hardly convincing in his early games for Ruben Amorim.

But there are signs that Yoro, now 19, might just represent a rarity … an INEOS masterstroke. In his recent performances, he has been consistently good and was outstanding in the 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in the semi-final second leg at Old Trafford.

From the time he was repeatedly skinned by ’s Kamaldeen Sulemana back in January, it was clear that Yoro’s defensive approach is not based on raw speed. Instead, he is proving to be a fine reader of a game, astute with his interventions and an intelligent distributor of the ball.

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Remember any United centre-halves with that skill set? Yes - and it is no surprise Yoro has been picking his brains.

“I speak a lot with the coach and I’ve spoken to Rio (Ferdinand) and not always in front of the cameras,” says Yoro. “Sometimes, they just give me advice. When a player like Rio can give you advice, then you need to take it.”

And as the comparisons to Ferdinand began to be taken a touch more seriously, it is clear to see they are giving the young French defender a lift. He goes on: “Of course I come to Man United to achieve big things, to win trophies.

"So, when you see players like , (Nemanja) Vidic and (Raphael) Varane, you want to achieve the same things as them, you want to stay in the memory of fans and be a big defender. When they compare me to them it’s a real honour, I’m proud of this.”

An odd report from Spain last week suggested his camp were exploring the possibility of getting him to Real Madrid after United's disappointing campaign. But Yoro looks like a player who is beginning to revel in the challenge facing United players of this era.

He says: “It was difficult for me in the beginning with the injury and even with my performances on the pitch when I first returned but now I’m 100 percent, I am starting to be good and I hope to be like that until the end of the season and into next season. I feel confident.”

And looking ahead to the Europa League final against Spurs, Yoro is, of course, determined to start his United medal collection, declaring: “This is a club of trophies. When you play for Manchester United you need to feel this. We are Manchester United and we need to win trophies.”

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