Report: Real Madrid interest grows as United star considers exit | OneFootball

Leny Yoro’s Madrid Dream Highlights Man United’s Wider Struggles

Youth, Regret and Ambition

Football careers are built on timing. For Leny Yoro, the teenage French defender once considered the next elite centre-back in Europe, timing now feels like a cruel twist. Just a year after signing for Manchester United in a deal worth up to £58.9 million from Lille, the 19-year-old is already angling for the exit. According to Defensa Central, Yoro “regrets his decision last summer” and has asked his agent, Jorge Mendes, to push for a move to Real Madrid.

Mendes has reportedly “offered Florentino Perez” the opportunity to sign the France U21 international, who is said to “want to come” to the Spanish capital. It’s a brutal admission, especially for a club that saw him as a centrepiece for the next generation.

United’s season has been turbulent, with Champions League qualification only possible via Europa League success. Real Madrid, while far from dominant, are still battling Barcelona for LaLiga supremacy. For Yoro, the glamour of Madrid’s white shirt—accompanied by the allure of Champions League nights at the Bernabéu—has proved irresistible.

United’s Defensive Gamble Unravelling

United’s decision to invest heavily in Yoro was bold but calculated. A technically gifted centre-back with strong ball-playing skills and positional awareness beyond his years, Yoro appeared to be a future-proofing measure. However, injury problems and inconsistent form have limited him to just 30 appearances this season.

Photo: IMAGO

Madrid’s stance, per Defensa Central, is pragmatic. Though they were previously keen, they are now unwilling to match United’s valuation. “Madrid are not willing to pay that, especially as Yoro snubbed them last summer,” the report states.

There’s also a cooling of admiration. Los Blancos are said to “not be impressed” by Yoro’s Premier League showings and have turned their focus to Arsenal’s William Saliba.

That pivot is telling. Madrid still require a centre-back but see more value and consistency in Saliba. Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is also on their radar—further evidence of a market shifting away from Yoro, just as his United situation deteriorates.

Mendes Effect and Market Reality

The role of super-agent Jorge Mendes shouldn’t be understated. His involvement is often a signal that a player is being strategically repositioned. In this case, Mendes appears to be Yoro’s lifeline to salvaging a stalled career trajectory by engineering a transfer to one of Europe’s elite.

However, Madrid’s reluctance to re-engage without a discount complicates matters. Should Yoro remain adamant, United may be forced into a sale—but one that represents a significant financial and reputational blow. A player signed for nearly £60 million, seeking to leave within a year, reflects poorly on both recruitment and strategic planning.

Future Questions for United

Yoro’s discontent may be a symptom of broader uncertainty at Old Trafford. With a rebuild under Ruben Amorim potentially on the horizon, losing a prized asset before the foundations are set is an ominous sign.

More crucially, it exposes a risk United have carried for years: the tendency to buy high and sell low, hoping short-term excitement turns into long-term success. Yoro’s story may not be finished yet—but it’s heading toward an all-too-familiar chapter for United fans.

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As a United supporter, this is both predictable and deeply frustrating. Another high-potential talent reportedly looking for the exit before even getting his boots muddy at Carrington for a second season. Yoro was meant to be the cornerstone of a new defence—£59 million should at least buy some patience—but here we are, reading about his “regret” and watching Mendes shop him around like damaged goods.

There’s something fundamentally wrong with the recruitment strategy if players are regretting their choices within 12 months. It’s not just about form or injuries—it’s about culture, identity, and trust in the project. If Real Madrid genuinely are unimpressed, what does that say about how Yoro has developed (or not) under the current coaching setup?

It stings to see Saliba namechecked as Madrid’s priority. That’s a player Arsenal stuck with, developed, and are now seeing flourish. We can’t keep buying promise and turning it into disappointment.