Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hailed summer signing Leny Yoro as “one of the biggest assets in European football” as the young defender works his way back from injury.
The 18-year-old joined United from Lille this summer after an impressive season in Ligue 1, where he completed 1,727 passes—the most by any teenager across Europe’s top five leagues in 2023/24.
Yoro, who arrived at Old Trafford for an initial fee of £52.2 million, made an immediate impact with a strong debut performance in a pre-season match against Rangers at Murrayfield.
However, during United’s US tour, Yoro suffered a setback when he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot during a friendly against Arsenal, sidelining him for approximately three months.
Reports suggest that Yoro will miss the first three games of the Premier League season, including matches against Fulham, Brighton, and Liverpool. Based on his recovery timeline, he is expected to return on September 14th against Southampton.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Ten Hag spoke highly of Yoro’s resilience and attitude in facing this challenge.
“One of the reasons we signed him is because of his maturity and strong personality,” Ten Hag said. “He’s handling the injury well, staying positive and focused on his rehab. There’s a fire in him, and for his age, he’s remarkably mature. He’s determined, knows what he wants, and I’m confident he’ll be back soon to help the team win games and trophies.”
In another interview with SuperSport, Ten Hag continued to praise Yoro’s potential.
“We’re thrilled to have signed him,” Ten Hag said. “He’s one of the biggest assets in European football. Leny understands that he still has a lot of development ahead, and we’re here to support him. We have the right environment and skills in our team to help him achieve his high ambitions.”
Leave a Reply