4
Real Madrid have no plan B for Leny Yoro after Manchester United officially announced the player’s signing yesterday.
It had been assumed by many in the media and amongst many European clubs that Yoro’s move to the Bernabeu was a foregone conclusion.
Nonetheless, United’s new sporting department would not give in and pulled off an almighty coup by landing the 18 year old from under the noses of the European champions.
Madrid had been banking on the player’s widely reported desire to move to Spain, so did not go anywhere near LOSC Lille’s valuation of Yoro.
This gave United a chance to sneak in. They agreed a sizeable fee with the French club last week and went about convincing the exciting starlet that Old Trafford was the right place for him to continue his development.
According to Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo, Los Blancos were ready to sign Yoro after the presentation of Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday.
So certain were the Bernabeu side that “there was no other option. The Lille player fit the profile of what was sought so well and the reports were so satisfactory, in addition to the contractual situation, that there was no room for a hypothetical scenario like the one that ended up happening.”
Madrid had considered names like Riccardo Calafiori, Giorgio Scalvini or Antonio Silva but none of them had been scouted or discussed to anything like the level of Yoro.
Commenting on La Liga’s champion’s transfer plans for central defence they report “there is no plan B for the fourth central position of the squad after the departure of Nacho and, above all, the injury of David Alaba, which will still keep him out of the game for a few months.”
“This is why the reality is that the club is closer to not signing anyone than doing so right now.”
Seen as a “generational talent” by many in European football, under normal circumstances Yoro’s signing would be impressive.
Factoring in that the Red Devils finished eighth last season, failed to qualify for the Champions League and the fact their CEO and sporting director only officially started work earlier this month, it makes the signing a jaw-dropping feat.
What’s more, Madrid’s lack of desire to enter the market for a substitute despite their defensive woes suggests how highly they rated him too.
Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.
