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Man Utd made a bold move in the summer transfer window a year ago.
Leny Yoro has arguably been United's best defensive performer this season and has established himself as a key figure in the starting line-up over recent months. The 19-year-old has impressed in all three centre-back roles and is viewed as an integral member of the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim. He'd love to have him fit next week.
The French defender was spotted on his way to do an individual gym session on Wednesday morning, and there is hope he will be fit enough to travel to Bilbao next week. He might lack match fitness after his withdrawal against West Ham last weekend, though his potential selection is a risk that is worth taking when the stakes are so high.
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Real Madrid will rue Yoro deal
Manchester United pulled off a genuine coup when they signed Leny Yoro from Lille a year ago, and many industry insiders viewed it as the type of statement signing that the club had gotten their act together again.
United paid an initial £52 million to sign the French centre-back, with a further £6.7m in possible performance-related add-ons. It was a bold and brave move, but one that ensured they secured his signature rather than run the risk of waiting for him to become a free agent this summer. That is what Real Madrid wanted to do.
The La Liga giants could not pursue a move for Yoro in the same summer they signed Kylian Mbappe and instead asked him to wait a year to move to the Spanish capital as a free agent. It appealed to the teenager, but when Lille were presented with United's bid, it became clear he would have to leave a year earlier than planned.
This summer, Madrid will welcome Xabi Alonso back to the club as head coach, and he will hope to add a central defender to their squad. Yoro was their top target for the position a year ago; they have missed the boat on that one and will have to spend a huge amount to sign someone with as much potential.
United will hope to reward Yoro's faith in them with Champions League qualification next week, but regardless of what happens against Tottenham Hotspur, he looks certain to grace the greatest stage in world football soon. They haven't made many transfer decisions right in recent years, signing Yoro looks even better this summer.
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