The Athletic have revealed some intriguing detail on Leny Yoro and his medical with Manchester United following his transfer this summer.
The former Lille defender was one the early sagas of the summer, with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Liverpool interested in the defender.
The French starlet had gained attention after an impressive season in Ligue 1, helping Lille secure Champions League qualification with 44 appearances.
The Reds, in the market for young, talented defenders, identified Yoro as a potential long-term successor to their defensive core, which includes the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool deemed the reported £52 million transfer fee as excessive, particularly for a player of Yoro’s age (18) and experience level.
Yoro, who had only one year left on his contract at Lille, had not yet fully proven himself at the senior level, with just 60 career appearances at the time of the deal.
Liverpool’s recruitment strategy typically avoids such high-risk financial moves unless the player has proven longevity or exceptional performance metrics.
Furthermore, the Anfield club could not give guarantee to Yoro and his entourage over playing time – something that also contributed to the Reds walking away from a potential deal.
But there was certainly some outcry from the fanbase, who were indignant that the Reds were not getting Yoro amid Real Madrid pulling out of talks.
However, the latest from the Athletic on Leny Yoro could see the Liverpool patting themselves on the back for not moving forward with the Frenchman.
What did the Athletic report on Leny Yoro?
Manchester United, undergoing a rebuilding phase after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League, saw Yoro as a cornerstone for their defensive future.
United were clear in their development plan for the player, emphasizing how they would integrate him into their long-term strategy.
This vision, combined with the financial package, proved too tempting for Yoro to turn down.
But it seems the Red Devils were so desperate to get the deal done that they played down findings in the medical assessment.
Indeed, Laurie Whitwell of the Athletic has reported that medical staff at Old Trafford found a potential issue with his metatarsal in his foot upon his arrival at the club – and were aware of the issue before completing the signing
However, they decided to press on with the signing, and now Yoro picked up a metatarsal fracture during pre-season that will keep him out until at least October.
Whitewell adds:
“United handled Yoro carefully and he trained in only 50 per cent of their sessions, but he suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal (on the outside) of his left foot in his second game for the club, against Arsenal in Los Angeles on that U.S. tour.”
“Yoro chose to stay with his new team-mates until the trip was over, and he had surgery once back in England. There is an estimate of three months’ rehabilitation, but he will not be rushed.”
“United had not expected him, as a teenager, to play every week in the Premier League to start with anyway, which is why signing another centre-back (which turned out to be De Ligt) as well was always on the agenda.”
With how many injuries Liverpool seem to pick up a season, the last thing that is needed is another injury-prone player.
So, Richard Hughes and co. may be silently happy that their decision to not make a move for Yoro has now looked wise retrospectively.
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