Amorim told he has a player who can ‘easily’ reach levels of PL colossus hailed as ‘the best in history’ | OneFootball

As has so often been the case for Manchester United supporters in recent seasons, they’re now clinging to the prospect of what their youngsters can bring this season.

Leny Yoro, while not a product of the Red Devils’ academy system, is believed to be one of the most highly-rated young defenders in world football – hence why United forked out a whopping £52.1 million to prise him from Lille last July, while also pledging a further £6.7m in add-ons.

In doing so, United pipped the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool to the 19-year-old’s signature, after which they instantly tied him down to a five-year deal plus the option of an additional season.

Yoro was forced to watch on from the sidelines for the first four months of the campaign after fracturing a metatarsal during a pre-season defeat to Arsenal, whom he would then go on to make his maiden outing against in December. As such, he never officially featured under the manager who signed him: Erik ten Hag.

Yoro earns high praise from Portuguese legend

Yoro is emerging as a key starter for Amorim.(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Since his debut, the teenager has played 14 matches in all competitions, including five starts in the Premier League and one in the Carabao Cup.

Now that Lisandro Martinez is expected to miss the remainder of the term with an anterior cruciate ligament tear, Yoro will presumably see his game time increase from now until the summer, especially with Jonny Evans unavailable and Victor Lindelof only just returning from his latest setback.

When speaking with Rio Ferdinand on his FIVE podcast recently, Yoro was told he could eventually reach the levels of Liverpool hero Virgil van Dijk – hailed as ‘the best defender in history’ by Paolo Maldini.

Ferdinand told the Frenchman: “Jose Fonte said to me, ‘If he (Yoro) carries on working hard and continues to develop, he can reach Virgil van Dijk’s level, easy.’”

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