Ferdinand sends warning to Carrick as he believes one Man Utd star’s lack of action is hindering his development | OneFootball

Rio Ferdinand wants to see Manchester United’s two young centre-backs utilised more this season.

Ferdinand has made no secret of the fact that he is a huge fan of Leny Yoro – to the point that he became one of the first people to welcome him to the club by calling him after he signed from Lille in 2024.

How Leny Yoro has fared since becoming a Red

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

At the time he made the switch, United had beaten fellow European giants Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool in the race for the Frenchman’s signature.

They paid an initial £52 million to get the deal over the line, while also pledging an additional £6.73m in add-ons.

Since then, Yoro has racked up 55 Premier League appearances and 2,925 minutes on the pitch.

He’s been deployed from the off in 30 matches and has been an unused substitute on six occasions, with his most prominent spells as a starter coming when one of United’s senior centre-halves has been sidelined.

Now that both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are fit at the same time, Yoro has featured for only 22 minutes in the opening three league fixtures, and was left on the bench for the season-opening defeat away to Hull City.

Presumably, he will be granted increased minutes when the Reds get their Champions League and cup campaigns underway, but Ferdinand has voiced concerns over the 20-year-old’s development being slightly delayed.

What did Ferdinand have to say about Yoro?

(Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

“We bought Yoro [on against Everton]. Yoro, I thought he would be a bit further ahead than he is now; he’s taken a little bit longer to push up that ceiling and fulfil that potential,” said Ferdinand on his Rio Presents YouTube channel.

“I think it’s still going to come, but I think it’s been slower than anticipated, 100%. [Ayden] Heaven, I think he could play now, but the manager’s making a choice and decision, and he wants to go with what he’s got. But I would always have one of those two in the backline just for pace at this level – 100%.

“There are players in the building at centre-half; there are five players there. Obviously, [Matthijs] de Ligt’s not fit.”

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