From Lille to the French National Team via Manchester United: Leny Yoro’s Rapid and Eventful Rise
Called up to the French national team for the first time at 20 years old center back, Leny Yoro experienced a rapid rise at Lille before a more difficult adventure at Manchester United club.
It’s been three years now since Leny Yoro waited in the wings for the French national team. In September 2023, Leny Yoro, then was 17 years and 10 months old, he played his first minutes with the French U21 team. Now, the 20-year-old Manchester United center-back has been called up to the senior squad by Manger Zinédine Zidane following Ibrahima Konaté’s withdrawal this Thursday match.
A blossoming under Paulo Fonseca in Lille
Leny Yoro was seen very early on at LOSC’s youth academy as a huge prospect. It was hardly a surprise time in May 2022, when he became the second youngest Lille player to make his Ligue 1 debut, at the age of 16 years and 6 months, under Jocelyn Gourvennec. But it was during the following winter that the central defender truly came into his own. With José Fonte injured, Paulo Fonseca decided to start the 17-year-old instead of Alexsandro. The Portuguese manager that was delighted: “It’s not easy to find a player with Leny’s character and qualities. I think he’s the future of the club with time.”
A transfer full of twists and turns
His impressive season at Lille club and his precocious talent have made Yoro a player on the shortlist of all the big clubs. Jorge Mendes sensed a good opportunity, and Gestifute took over the youngster’s interests, preventing him from signing a contract extension to facilitate a transfer in the 2024 summer. Among the suitors are PSG and Real Madrid, which the player is very tempted to join them.
In Manchester, an adventure that wasn’t always easy
Leny Yoro’s Manchester adventure got off to a bad start, with a broken left foot at the end of July in 2024 that sidelined him for the first four months of competition game. He made his debut in the month of December, but in a struggling team, and six of his first seven appearances ended in lose. Nevertheless, he found his place in Ruben Amorim’s back three and finished the season as a regular starter. He began the following season in the same way, but very quickly, the Portuguese manager preferred a trio of De Ligt, Maguire, and Shaw team mate.
