Dare To Reject Real Madrid, Leny Yoro Officially Recruits Second Manchester United

Manchester United's new center-back Leny Yoro was brought in from Lille. (X/@ManUtd)

JAKARTA - Central defender Leny Yoro rejected the offer of Spanish La La Liga giant Real Madrid and chose to join Manchester United. Defender Lille has also officially become MU's second signing after signing a five-year contract.

Yoro is 18 years old and he is said to be a brilliant defender. This is what makes Madrid want to bring Yoro. Especially after the retirement of veteran Nacho's centre-back and chose to play in Saudi Arabia before hanging up his boots completely.

But it was MU who managed to get the U-21 national team player. Like Madrid, this English Premier League giant needs a center back after releasing Raphael Varane. Currently, MU only has Leandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

The problem is that Martinez is often absent because the Argentine defender is easily injured. If there is Yoro, then Lindelof can play in another position because this Swedish defender is a multifunction or can play as a full back or defensive midfielder.

However, MU has to spend a lot of money. The FA Cup winner who is preparing to return to rival one city of Manchester City in Community Shield or the opening match of this competition spent 52 million pounds or approximately 1.09 trillion rupiah.

This makes Yoro one of the most expensive center-backs in the world. But he still lost to Maguire who was the most expensive centre-back when he was bought by Manchester United from Leicester City in 2019.

MU seems to have a tradition of buying center-backs at high prices. Previously, the Red Devils had made Rio Ferdinand's center back the most expensive player in the Premier League when they brought him from Leeds United in 2002.

Yoro himself immediately got a long-term contract, which is five years with the option of an extension of one year. Yoro's recruitment is the second after Joshua Zirkzee, a Dutch forward bought from Bologna.

MU buys young players as determined by Sir Jim Radcliffe, the owner of MU's minority stake. He also only allowed manager Erik ten Hag to propose to players under the age of 25 who wanted to buy MU.

The move received a response from young players from various clubs. Evidently, they are willing to accept MU's offer to join.

"I know the history of young players at Manchester United. And, I feel the club is the most ideal place to bring out my potential with my new colleagues. They also show more attention to me and my family," Yoro was quoted as saying by The Sun.

Yes, MU is considered more serious than Madrid and takes an intensive approach to Yoro who shows impressive performance in Ligue 1 France. This made him dismissed Madrid's offer and chose to move to England as a place to develop his potential and career.

"Signing a contract with a club as big and having ambitions like Manchester United at the beginning of my career is an extraordinary honor," he said.

"Since I first held talks, they conveyed the plan very clearly and how can I be part of that impressive project. I can't wait to play this team," he said.