Describing someone as the next Raphael Varane might not be taken so well by United fans after the world champion’s mixed three seasons at Old Trafford. However, it is hard to escape a number of comparisons between the former France international (at least the younger version of him) and new signing Leny Yoro.
Like Varane, Yoro came through the youth system at one of the Nord region’s marquee clubs before making his debut at a very young age. While Varane first appeared for Lens, Yoro debuted at 16 in 2022 for rivals Lille, before going on to establish himself as a first-team regular last season, putting in excellent defensive performances in helping les Dogues to a fourth-place finish and to the Europa Conference quarter-finals.
At just 18, centre-back Yoro’s performances have seen him become one of the continent’s best defensive prospects. Like Varane, Yoro is developing a reputation as an excellent reader of the game, whose innate positional sense means that he rarely needs to throw himself into desperate last-gasp tackles. He is comfortable sitting deep and taking up a sweeper role, but his pace means that he is also adept at playing a high line, able to recover if turned.
There are of course areas on which work is needed, many of which could relate to the physical side of his game. At six foot two and with good upper body strength, Yoro has the potential to become dominant in the air. However, like many young French defenders (including Varane, who was famously out-muscled by Mats Hummels for Germany’s winner in the 2014 World Cup quarter-final), he needs to use that strength more intelligently and meanly, to dominate opponents when competing for headers. While he is more than a match for any striker in a straight one-on-one race for the ball, he can be embarrassed when facing up against an opponent with a quick change of direction. And he can occasionally go to ground and commit a little early. But these may all be growing pains as he becomes accustomed to his body and what he can do with it.
That final weakness relates to another area needing work. Yoro is comfortable on the ball, able to dribble out from defence and to be the first distributor, with a high pass completion rate, albeit relatively short passes. However, he can occasionally carry the ball too far and lose it in dangerous positions; and while he has a long pass on him, he seems to lack the confidence to use it too often – and when he does it can tend to be rushed and result in a loss of possession. These are not unusual issues for a young player, which will be resolved as he develops more experience and in-game intelligence. The positive is that he has the raw tools there, that just need to be sharpened.
Le LOSC confirme ce jour avoir conclu un accord avec Manchester United FC pour le transfert de Leny Yoro. Pur produit du LOSC, il quitte donc son club formateur après sept années sous les couleurs du LOSC.
Leny, nous sommes fiers de la personne et du footballeur que tu es… pic.twitter.com/UpXRIj7BEY
— LOSC (@losclive) July 18, 2024
Although he has the temperament and ability to go straight into the starting line-up of a team that is looking to reduce its average age, the new country and culture, along with the step-up in quality and – perhaps more importantly – the increase in expectation and pressure that Yoro will experience at Old Trafford may necessitate an adaptation period and perhaps some time on the bench. However, Yoro is calm, intelligent and quick to learn and, if well supported by his coach and his fans, can aspire to match the career of Varane and be a far bigger success at United.
Follow @jeremysmith98 on Twitter for more updates and insight on French football.
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