Regardless of a possible trophy or promising end-of-season run, the 2024-25 season will not be remembered positively by the Manchester United faithful. Nevertheless, there are some crumbs of comfort, and Leny Yoro is arguably the most notable.
Having joined last summer for £52 million (with £6.73m in add-ons) from French side Lille, Yoro was tipped by many as a future star, representing a major coup for Manchester United and Ineos.
Somewhat against the grain, the 20-time English champions beat off Real Madrid to his signature in a move that shocked many, with much of the footballing world anticipating a departure to Spain.
The hype around his arrival made his preseason outing against Rangers a must-see for all United supporters. Sadly, the youngster broke his foot in a friendly against Arsenal, inadvertently missing several months at the beginning of the season.
Any player will always lament a setback in a meaningless fixture, but when it occurred so soon after signing for a new club in a new country, it was a tough pill to swallow for the French Youth International.
However, Yoro made his eagerly awaited debut against Mikel Arteta’s men in December and has steadily established his credentials. Despite nonsensical analysis, the French teenager is beginning to highlight his outstanding qualities and potential in the North West.
Leny Yoro | A gifted defender in the heart of Manchester
Although his playing time has been limited with 25 appearances in all competitions, the Saint-Maurice native is already developing a noteworthy collection of defensive accolades.
A memorable passage of play at Anfield showcased his timing and understanding with an inch-perfect tackle to deny an onrushing Darwin Nunez in a significantly important outing for the travelling Reds.
Tipped to reach the pinnacle of European football by many pundits and experts from across the continent, English supporters are beginning to understand the hype with each passing appearance.
It would be foolhardy to disregard rawness in his game, but what 19-year-old is the finished product? Yoro is already comfortable on the ball with a lightning pace. But, he possesses an invaluable trait of in-game intelligence, meaning he has all the tools needed to become a great of the game.
Inevitably, a lack of preseason hampered his adaptation to the Premier League. But it was maybe a blessing in disguise as he acquired a new coach in Ruben Amorim following Erik ten Hag’s departure in October.
His return coincided with a new system that the squad was learning from scratch before entering the hectic Christmas schedule, but Yoro is proving to have the character to deal with adapting on the pitch.
Notably, defensive issues have meant he has not had a settled spot in the backline, often playing either side of the centre-back and rotating multiple times during the game. That said, an ability to seamlessly transition adds further fuel to the nature of his character.
With every passing game, Yoro shows a maturity beyond his years, and a trip to a partisan Lyon emphasises how good he can be.
His distribution of the football was as clever as his tackling, and his quick instincts were rewarded with his first Manchester United goal when he redirected a Manuel Ugarte volley into the back of the net.
Undeniably, the youngster will need to learn from his first season in England, as the competition has differing characteristics to Ligue 1, with more emphasis on physicality and aggressive transitions.
But if Amorim can get a settled and stable United defence with Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Matthijs De Ligt, the tantalising prospect of a very young but talented unit to build from the back is a realistic avenue.
Whatever way this season pans out, Yoro is a star of the future, and it is easy to see why Madrid circled and why United pulled off such a coup in landing this remarkably talented teenager.
How do you feel about Leny Yoro during his maiden campaign with Manchester United, and his potential moving forward?
Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
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