Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro
Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Leny Yoro has the right physique to be a centre-back, unlike his Manchester United teammate Lisandro Martinez.
Previously speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher expressed that if he was in charge of United's recruitment, he would have never signed Martinez due to his build. "I said this when Manchester United signed him, but I did worry about Lisandro Martinez for his height," he explained.
"If I was a manager, I would never buy a defender that small and the reason being it's not just him, I like him as a player and he's got great spirit, he's brilliant on the ball, he's aggressive. But the way the games now, because full-backs are almost like wingers, there's not that many big players in your team, so your full-backs aren't the biggest anymore.
ALSO READ: Keane tells Rashford where he should go next
ALSO READ: Amorim warns Rashford over United interview
"I always think for set-pieces, your centre-backs sometimes and even your striker now - how many teams play with a massive player up front - it doesn't really happen as much. Your two centre-backs have got to be, just for set-pieces, 6ft 3in, 6ft 4in, so at least you've got those two pillars."
Ahead of Yoro's debut in the Carabao Cup, Carragher waxed lyrical about the Frenchman's height. He told Sky Sports: "I’m really looking forward to seeing him.
"He has had bits and pieces with the new manager so far. When he signed it was almost like Man United were doing something different.
"It wasn’t like signing [Raphael] Varane or Casemiro from Real Madrid where they have had their best days. This lad’s best days are in front of him.
"You look at the size and the physique of him, he looks the part before we have seen him play. He looks like a centre-back, he looks like he has got that stature and presence.
"He is in a back three, he wasn’t bought originally to play in that system. When you play a back three, no centre-back wants to be drawn into those wide areas but when you look at those long legs, [you think] he may be able to deal with it."
Try MUFC Pro NOW for free
Subscribe to our brilliant app for the best way to enjoy the M.E.N's unrivalled Manchester United coverage.
No adverts, pop-ups or distractions - just our brilliant content presented in the best way possible.
Comprehensive, round-the-clock coverage of the Reds, with agenda-setting breaking news and insight from Samuel Luckhurst and our authoritative team of United writers
Exclusive content for subscribers
New interactive elements including (coming soon) quizzes to test your United knowledge.
Try MUFC Pro for a front-row seat to the action at absolutely no cost for the first month. You can get started by downloading our app here on iPhone, or here on Android.* If you a *lready have our app, click on the ''MUFC Pro',' Subscribe' or ' Remove ads' links.
*Free trial auto renews at £19.99 annually unless cancelled. T&C’s apply. Ad-free indicates that you will not be shown standard display ad formats with the articles that you read, selected articles may contain commercial messages/affiliate links where contractually required.