A Manchester United star has addressed transfer links to Real Madrid, insisting that he made the right decision despite the La Liga giants showing major interest
15:29, 07 Nov 2025
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: Leny Yoro of Manchester United celebrates the Manchester United goal which came from a Fulham own goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage on August 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Leny Yoro is adamant he made the right decision to join Manchester United over Real Madrid(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside, Offside via Getty Images)
Leny Yoro is convinced he made the right decision to snub Real Madrid and sign for Manchester United.
The 19-year-old French centre-back joined United in the summer of 2024 in an initial £54million move from Lille. United beat La Liga giants Real Madrid to Yoro’s signing, with the teenager looking certain to move to the Santiago Bernabeu before the Red Devils swooped.
United endured their worst-ever season in Yoro’s first campaign, which saw him battle injuries as he attempted to adapt to the Premier League. But the talent he possesses has left United confident they have a gem in the making.
Yoro was asked about Real’s interest at the time and insists he made the right decision moving to Old Trafford. "Yeah, I know the media, sometimes there's some information that's not completely true. This is some choice you need to make in your career,” he said.
"I've had a couple of clubs [showing an interest], not just Madrid or United, I had a lot of clubs. Today my choice is Manchester, so I'm really happy with this.
Leny Yoro of Manchester United tackles Anthony Elanga of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground in Nottingham, United Kingdom, on April 1, 2025. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Leny Yoro has shown enormous potential at Old Trafford(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"I know some people talked about this last year because of the results. I can understand them, but honestly, it's my choice, my career. I know what I'm doing, and I'm just going to be better in the future."
Yoro’s first campaign at United didn’t go to plan as he missed the first months of the season after fracturing his metatarsal in pre-season.
Reflecting on his journey so far, he continued: "Honestly, I think the experience, especially when you are centre-half, it's really important.
"I'm just 19, but when you're on the pitch, you don't care about this. If I have a duel with a 30-year-old guy, I'm not going to think about my age, but in terms of some situations, some duels, I think sometimes you need this experience.
LILLE, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 12: Leny Yoro of Lille celebrates his goal during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and Toulouse FC (TFC, Tefece) at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on November 12, 2023 in Lille, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Leny Yoro rejected Real Madrid as a talented young defender at Lille(Image: Jean Catuffe, Getty Images)
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
"When you see guys like Harry [Maguire], De Ligt, Shaw, the experienced guys like this, they have some way to face the situation. When you're a centre-half, it depends when you start your career.
"But especially around 25, 24, or even 27, this is like your peak level because of the experience you have on the pitch. A different way to face the situation is important sometimes."
Yoro revealed that Kobbie Mainoo was one of the players who convinced him to join United, he said: "Before I arrived at the club, I spoke with him also because we had some guys in relation.
Article continues below
"When I came here, he was someone I was with every time. Of course, we have the same age, we have the same relationship.
“When you have someone like this in your team, it's important to have a good relation. He's a top guy. We spend the holiday together. It's important for us to have this type of relation."