Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand is fully convinced that all that one of Ruben Amorim’s players needs is the ‘right’ pieces around him.
Manchester United are on the verge of returning to Premier League action later this week for the first time since the start of the September international break.
Ruben Amorim faces two major tests in the upcoming 2025-26 Premier League fixtures, with the Red Devils travelling away to Manchester City on Sunday.
Following United’s encounter at the Etihad for the Manchester derby, the Red Devils will then host Premier League side Chelsea at Old Trafford on 14th September.
The Red Devils picked up their first win ahead of the September international break, with United defeating Burnley in a late 3-2 Premier League win at Old Trafford.
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Former TNT Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park in 2025 in Birmingham, England.
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Rio Ferdinand’s feelings on Man Utd star Leny Yoro under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford speak volumes
Leny Yoro has impressed in the three-man backline set-up under Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim in the Red Devils’ tactical system at Old Trafford.
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The 19-year-old Frenchman arrived at the Premier League club in 2024 and missed the opening months of the 2024-25 campaign due to a pre-season injury.
However, Leny Yoro established himself under Amorim after his return from the sidelines and has shown promising signs early in his United career so far.
Rio Ferdinand, who played a key role in Yoro’s move to sign for United after leaving Lille, has said that the Red Devils defender “needs time” to reach his full potential.
“Leny Yoro’s got pace, going to get more time,” he told Andy Mitten for the United We Stand magazine.
“Yeah, I love him. I think his ceiling, I don’t know where his ceiling, how high, [it] could be anything.
“He just needs the pieces around him as well to help him as a young kid, but I think he has the nucleus of all the right traits to be a top centre-half and he will be because he wants to be.
“He’s a hard worker. He’s diligent, but he needs time as well.”
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Leny Yoro is showing exactly why Rio Ferdinand rates him so highly after the Man Utd star’s impact under Ruben Amorim
Leny Yoro was on the radar of elite European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Liverpool before he completed his stunning move to United in 2024.
The Red Devils agreed to sign the French centre-back when he was only 18 years old, with United agreeing an initial fee of £52.18m with Ligue 1 outfit Lille.
Erik ten Hag was sacked as United manager before Yoro overcame his 2024 pre-season injury, but Amorim has benefited from the Red Devils talent in his squad.
Yoro has been a regular starter in the United first team under Amorim and the former Lille defender has been a calming presence in the three-man backline.
Just as Ferdinand has suggested, the former Real Madrid and PSG target has incredible potential at United so long as he is nurtured in the right environment.