Leny Yoro’s former coach tells Manchester United his “best quality” – it’s a nice surprise

Leny Yoro’s former youth team coach has told Manchester United the defender’s “best quality” and it is a nice surprise.

United confirmed the signing of Yoro from Lille last week, and many are excited about the 18-year-old centre-back and what he can offer Erik ten Hag’s team going forward.

Yoro worked through the ranks at Lille from a young age and was coached by Olivier Szkwarok at under-16 level, but the coach quickly recognised that the lanky defender needed to be fast-tracked through the Academy.

Speaking to The Athletic, Szkwarok recalled: “When Leny was an under-16, I said to the under-19 coach that he needs to play in the under-19s, but he didn’t have a place for him.

“But the first time he (started for the under-19s), he never returned with me. He was the best on the pitch.”

Yoro would go on to make his first-team debut for Lille at the age of 16, coming off the bench in a game against OGC Nice in May 2022.

Yoro’s best quality

Szkwarok further detailed the young centre-back’s encounter with the now-Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe and how he was able to keep stride for stride with the electric forward.

That speed is something that United fans witnessed during his unofficial debut against Rangers last week, yet it was not always a string in Yoro’s bow, and that helped him learn to read the game in front of him.

“When he played against Kylian Mbappe, he had the same speed as him,” continued Szkwarok. “But when he was younger, Leny did not have a lot of speed, and he developed the ability to read the game, both defensively and offensively. It is his best quality. A very intelligent player.

“He had the mentality of a defender. He loved defending, he loved intercepting the ball, winning the ball with his head. It is a little bit rare to have both qualities, to have technique and the mentality of a defender.”

A nice surprise

When you’re dealing with a young player who has quickly elevated to the top of European football, it is not too rare to see them be physical specimens. That’s often how they’re able to compete in the professional game so soon in their careers.

Yet, the mental side of the game is something that usually comes later. We’ve seen an exception at Old Trafford in Kobbie Mainoo, and it appears that Yoro is exactly the same.

Not having the speed or strength in his youth career helped Yoro learn how to maximise his game through reading play, like many esteemed defenders.

However, now he has that speed, and combining that with the game intelligence is an exciting prospect for United.

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