Report – Reason why Leny Yoro snubbed Real Madrid for Manchester United | OneFootball

Journalist Carlo Carpio, in a report for MARCA, has unveiled a dramatic twist involving Ligue 1 outfit Lille and promising young talent Leny Yoro.

According to Carpio, Lille allegedly resorted to a drastic ultimatum aimed at Yoro: sign with Manchester United or face a year on the sidelines without playing.

It is said that hours after a jubilant unveiling of Kylian Mbappe at the iconic Bernabeu, the mood quickly soured for the Spanish giants when they received an unexpected call on Tuesday afternoon.

It conveyed the shocking news that their meticulously planned transfer strategy had hit a major roadblock: Yoro had a change of heart and opted to accept Man United’s offer instead, sealing a lucrative five-year contract.

Yoro, touted as one of the most promising young central defenders, succumbed to Manchester United’s aggressive pursuit, which included a substantial €50 million fixed fee plus an additional €20 million in potential add-ons to Lille.

This turn of events left Real Madrid both surprise and disappointment in its wake.

Yoro wanted Real Madrid. Period!

Only weeks prior, Yoro and his agent, Jorge Mendes, had made their intentions clear to all interested parties.

The French defender’s priority was to join Real Madrid, a sentiment echoed to PSG and Liverpool, his other suitors. However, once United entered the fray, they refused to relent.

Leny Yoro had his heart set on Real Madrid. (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Real Madrid had been cautiously optimistic about securing Yoro’s signature, having worked tirelessly for months. They had even reached a verbal agreement with the player, confident that a deal under favourable terms was imminent.

However, negotiations with Lille proved to be a stumbling block. The French club demanded between €50 million and €60 million, a sum deemed excessive by Madrid for a player with only one season remaining on his contract.

Why did the move fail?

The situation unravelled due to several factors. Firstly, Yoro was swayed by United’s substantial financial package, particularly the significantly higher salary offered compared to Real Madrid’s proposal.

Moreover, he succumbed to intense pressure exerted by his current club, Lille, who reportedly went as far as threatening him with a year-long ban from playing if he refused United’s offer.

Such coercive tactics, common in high-stakes negotiations, ultimately influenced Yoro’s decision-making process.

For Real Madrid, losing out on Yoro represents a setback in their efforts to bolster their defence following the departures of Nacho and Rafa Marin.

With defensive resources already strained, the reigning European champions now face renewed scrutiny over their lack of depth at centre-back.