Barring any confirmation that he is set for months on the sidelines, not even the sight of Leny Yoro hobbling off the pitch has dimmed the excitement surrounding the Frenchman’s arrival at Manchester United.
On only his second appearance for the Red Devils, the £52 million summer signing from Lille hit the turf in the first-half against Arsenal before hobbling off.
Leny Yoro was pictured on Wednesday with crutches and a protective boot. He seemingly faces a race against time to be fit for the Premier League opener let alone the Community Shield re-match with Man City on August 10th.
Yet, presuming Yoro’s absence keeps him out for weeks rather than months, the mere sight of arguably football’s most coveted young defender donning Manchester United apparel has a hopeful fanbase increasingly confident that better days are just around the corner under Ineos.
Leny Yoro a sign of a bright Manchester United future
According to The Athletic, Paris Saint-Germain and long-term admirers Liverpool showed an interest in Yoro this summer.
It is no secret, meanwhile, that the 18-year-old superstar-in-waiting – likened to Virgil van Dijk and Raphael Varane – entered the window with his heart set on joining European champions Real Madrid.
His eventual switch to Man United, then, was a major feather in Ineos’ cap. Proof not only that United still possessed the same pulling power of old, but also proof that an exciting new project could convince talents of Yoro’s ilk that Old Trafford is no longer a graveyard for wasted potential.
It is certainly not every day that Real Madrid – faulty fax machine notwithstanding – miss out on their top targets.
Yoro, then, joins a select group of players who slipped through Los Blancos’ net, alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard, Neymar and Ronaldinho.
But how has Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti reacted to seeing the so-called ‘Kylian Mbappe of defenders’ end up Old Trafford rather than the Santiago Bernabeu?
Well, when quizzed on the subject, the unflappable Italian batted away the question with an air of confidence and composure that has long been his trademark.
Real Madrid miss out as defensive worries pervade
“The squad is complete,” Ancelotti protests, via Super Deporte, highlighting the availability of Jesus Vallejo and David Alaba as well as a trio of exciting young talents.
“Vallejo has returned. Alaba is recovering. And we have the youngsters who are training and have a lot of quality, like the three centre-backs; Joan (Martinez), Jacobo (Ramon) and Raul (Asencio).
“In this position, we believe we are very well covered. Alaba will return and do well. There are no departures because everyone wants to stay.”
Ancelotti’s typical tranquility, however, is not an attitude that will be shared by everyone of a Madrid persuasion.
Yes, Alaba’s long-awaited return from an ACL tear brings one of the finest footballers in Europe back into the fold. But Martinez, Ramon and Asencio are completely unproven at senior level, while ex-Wolves misfit Vallejo featured only three times on loan for relegated Granada in 2023/24.
This, coupled with the departure of the vastly experienced Nacho Fernandez, means a Yoro-less Real Madrid could go into next season with a weaker backline than they ended the last one.
The £10 million sale of Rafa Marin to Napoli – just days before Yoro put pen to paper with Man United – may also be a decision that comes back to haunt the 15 time European Cup winners.
Real had allegedly planned to keep Marin, with his departure seemingly highlighting just how confident they were that Yoro would hold out for a move to the Bernabeu.
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