Paul Scholes has claimed he’s “not liked what I’ve seen so far” from Leny Yoro in a Manchester United shirt while also questioning fellow centre-back Matthijs de Ligt’s abilities to form a title-winning defence.
Yoro, 19, secured a blockbuster move to Old Trafford last summer in a deal worth a potential £60 million from Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille. As the centre-back was only 18 at the time, the transfer constituted the most expensive ever for a player 18 or under – a reflection of how highly-regarded Yoro was across European football.
Real Madrid had emerged as the frontrunners for the defensive starlet, hoping to replicate the success of Raphael Varane’s move to the Spanish capital as a precociously talented youngster from Lille.
However, Los Blancos were unwilling to meet the Ligue 1’s club’s demands given Yoro was entering the final year of his contract in France.
An “Obsession” for United
This gave United officials an opening to jump the queue for the defender who became an “obsession” for the new executive structure at Old Trafford. And, after weeks of protracted negotiations, the deal was struck with Yoro revealing he “could not wait” to test himself in the Premier League.
Madrid’s assessment of Yoro was so high that the Spanish giant decided there was not enough young defender on the market worth pursuing in his place, underscoring why INEOS became so focused on securing the 19-year-old’s signature.
However, the cruel hand of fate intervened as Yoro suffered a serious metatarsal injury in his first pre-season performance for the Red Devils, ruling the youngster out for three months.
Yoro returned to fitness in November, around a similar time to Ruben Amorim taking over at Old Trafford, but had to wait until early December to make his full debut for his new club.
Since this delayed introduction, the French defender has been a constant presence in either the starting eleven or match-day squads with Amorim evidently a fan, though the 40-year-old coach will likely be reluctant to overwhelm a young player in a high-pressure environment.
Yoro endured a particularly challenging night in the comeback 3-1 win over Southampton last month. Saints winger Kamaldeen Sulemana ran the 19-year-old ragged as United’s right-hand side was repeatedly exposed in a lucky victory, inspired by the irrepressible Amad.
And it’s this performance which leads Scholes to question Yoro’s start to life in Manchester.
Scholes Unimpressed
Scholes claimed United “need two centre-backs” to improve the team. When questioned about the presence of a talent like Yoro in the club’s ranks, the former Reds midfielder quipped, “Did you see the Southampton game?”
“I haven’t liked what I’ve seen so far,” Scholes contends.
However, the 50-year-old player-turned-pundit does state he would “keep” Yoro as one part of the “spine” of a team who could challenge for Premier League titles. This praise does not extend to his teammate, De Ligt – signed from Bayern Munich in the same window as Yoro.
“What are your ambitions?” with a player like De Ligt starting Scholes questions, leaving little doubt about his assessments of the 25-year-old Dutch international. “Are you going to win the Premier League with De Ligt and Yoro as your centre-halves?” he concludes.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
