The 'very mature' 18-year-old French defender Leny Yoro represents a welcome departure from the Red Devils' previous transfer dealings and could be a step towards great things.
Manchester United supporters might have been apprehensive upon learning that Rio Ferdinand played a role in convincing Leny Yoro to sign for the club. Ferdinand was among several United figures who had urged Cristiano Ronaldo to make his ill-fated return to Old Trafford.
While Ronaldo did score 27 goals for United and provided some memorable moments, his second stint ultimately proved to be a significant mistake for both the player and the club.
However, there are high hopes for Ferdinand's latest project. Yoro, much like Ferdinand when he joined United from Leeds in 2002, has the potential to be a transformative signing, one who could anchor their defence for the next decade and help them return to the pinnacle of football.
The signing of 18-year-old Yoro marks a significant shift from United's previous transfer policy, offering genuine optimism about the club's direction under new minority owners INEOS and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
John Murtough, Ashworth's predecessor, often prioritised experience over potential, spending large sums on players who had already proven themselves, sometimes years earlier. Ronaldo was just one example, signing big names well past their prime with no resale value predates Murtough. Examples include Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Radamel Falcao, and many others.
While Casemiro, Varane, Ronaldo, and Cavani had reached the pinnacle of their careers and were on the decline, Yoro is on the ascent. A clear indication of this is that Real Madrid were United's main rivals for his signature.
Madrid were keen to bring Yoro in as their fourth centre-back after parting ways with Nacho and Rafa Marin this summer and engaged in discussions with Yoro’s agent, Jorge Mendes. Yoro's £52m ($68m) transfer fee has raised eyebrows in some quarters, given he is just 18, not yet a full international, and has only one full season in one of Europe’s top leagues under his belt. However, a substantial offer was necessary to entice him to join United over Madrid and compensate for the lack of Champions League football at Old Trafford.
United fans were given an early glimpse of his capabilities in his debut against Rangers on Saturday. Yoro exuded confidence during his 45 minutes on the pitch, showcasing his passing range, recovery speed, and strength. Erik ten Hag was impressed, commending the defender for a "very mature performance."
United must continue their positive work in the transfer market and make ambitious, bold signings like Yoro the norm rather than the exception.
Ten Hag praised the efforts of his recruitment colleagues after the Rangers game and hinted that he had not been satisfied with the previous two years.
United are finally looking to the future rather than the past. Yoro's signing could be the first building block in a squad designed to last and make the club a formidable force once again, rather than being the 'garbage can' for other top clubs.
