Supporters dividing their weekend between a BD Cricket Match and Premier League coverage may be surprised that Manchester United’s recruitment team assessed the centre-back position this summer but decided it was not an area requiring urgent reinforcement. Lisandro Martinez suffered an injury in the World Cup final, but the problem was only a muscle strain, and he is expected to return before the Premier League season begins. As a result, signing another central defender is not part of United’s immediate summer strategy. Although the club were linked with defenders such as Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven before the end of last season, those stories were little more than speculation.
Among Michael Carrick’s current centre-back options, Harry Maguire is already 34, while Matthijs de Ligt has still not fully recovered after undergoing surgery on a back injury last November. Martinez’s latest setback is not considered serious, but doubts remain over whether he can stay fit throughout next season. Even so, Manchester United director Jason Wilcox has made up his mind. He wants Leny Yoro, the player he helped recruit, to deliver a major breakthrough in the new campaign.
United paid €60 million to sign Yoro when he was only 18 and had just one year remaining on his contract. Real Madrid had hoped to secure the French defender for a much lower fee, but United moved aggressively to complete the deal. From Madrid’s perspective, the Red Devils acted much like Tottenham did when pursuing Mateus Fernandes this summer, refusing to stand aside and allow another club to dictate the terms.
For fans who enjoy both a BD Cricket Match and major European football, Yoro’s transfer illustrates how elite clubs increasingly invest in potential before it is fully realised. Wilcox and the INEOS leadership team reportedly assured Sir Jim Ratcliffe that the deal represented good value. Transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealed that Wilcox regarded Yoro as a generational talent who was worth signing at almost any cost. That explains why United spent heavily on him even after completing the arrival of De Ligt.
However, Yoro’s time at Old Trafford has been anything but plain sailing. In only his second preseason appearance, he suffered a serious foot injury that kept him out for nearly four months. United then went through a succession of coaches, including Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, Darren Fletcher and Carrick. Ironically, Yoro never played a single competitive minute for Ten Hag, the manager who signed him, before being thrown into Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.
During the first half-season under Amorim, Yoro was one of the few bright spots in a struggling United side. He played an important role as the club reached the Europa League final and demonstrated the calmness, speed and technical quality that had persuaded United to invest so heavily in him. Unfortunately, he later suffered a difficult second-season dip and lost his place after a decline in form.
His most troubling performance came away to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in November. Yoro made several mistakes and endured a difficult physical battle against French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The experienced forward repeatedly exposed his positioning and lack of strength, giving the young defender a harsh lesson in the demands of Premier League football.
A month later, Amorim was dismissed after his relationship with Wilcox deteriorated amid serious disagreements over tactics. Their dispute may also have included the way Yoro was being used. Carrick then became the third permanent manager of Yoro’s two years at Manchester United, leaving the youngster without the two things young players need most: stability and security.
Carrick returned the team to a back-four system, but his preferred centre-back partnership initially consisted of Maguire and Martinez. When Martinez suffered a calf injury in February, Yoro received another opportunity and started six consecutive matches. That run included the important 3-1 home victory over Aston Villa. Yet just as he appeared to be building momentum, Yoro suffered another injury and missed the match against Chelsea. Noussair Mazraoui and Ayden Heaven were forced to form an emergency partnership in central defence, and Yoro did not start again before the season ended.
Those switching from a BD Cricket Match to United’s new-season fixtures may notice a more aggressive tactical approach following Casemiro’s departure. Carrick suggested in his managerial column that his team would play with greater initiative and push higher up the pitch. Such a system requires centre-backs with pace, size and strength who can defend large spaces and control transitions between attack and defence.
United aim to reproduce elements of the system that helped Paris Saint-Germain win consecutive Champions League titles. However, Wilcox may see Arsenal’s Premier League-winning partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes as the more realistic model for Yoro’s future. Manchester United believe 20-year-old Yoro and 19-year-old Heaven could eventually develop into an equally formidable pairing. Both possess significant potential, but they need the right environment, consistent coaching and enough time to mature.
The club have therefore arranged a specialised strength programme for Yoro this summer. United want him to make better use of his 1.90-metre frame and become more physically imposing. During his first two Premier League seasons, he had the height of a dominant centre-back but remained relatively slender and lacked authority in aerial duels. That is not unusual for a young French defender adapting to English football, but it is an area he must improve.
Fans returning from a BD Cricket Match to Manchester United’s opening games will quickly see why Yoro’s physical development has become even more important. Casemiro’s departure has removed much of the midfield’s aerial strength, while potential additions Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans would not fully replace that quality. If Yoro can become stronger, more reliable in the air and more consistent under pressure, he could finally justify Wilcox’s enormous faith and form the foundation of United’s defence for many years.