Summer arrival Leny Yoro was named in the starting XI for Manchester United's second pre-season friendly of the summer against Rangers in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon.
The 18-year-old's move from Lille was only confirmed on Thursday night, but he trained with the Red Devils on Friday and was then in the squad for Saturday's clash with Rangers.
Yoro was in the first XI, operating alongside Jonny Evans in the middle of the defence, and he played the opening 45 minutes of what proved to be a 2-0 victory for Erik ten Hag's side.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at how Yoro performed on Saturday, with the Man United fans given their first sighting of the exciting teenager in the Red Devils strip.
© Imago
Calm in possession
According to United Zone, Yoro completed 44 of his 48 passes during his time on the field, while he had 51 touches in total and managed three passes into the final third.
The centre-back's calmness on the ball was clear, with the youngster prepared to take control in tight spaces, and he almost always found a teammate.
For an 18-year-old on his first appearance for a major club, his use of the ball was seriously impressive, and if he continues to star over the course of pre-season, then an appearance in the first XI for the team's opening match of the Premier League season against Fulham cannot be ruled out.
Erik 🤝 Leny#MUFC pic.twitter.com/gbhHu71M8R
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 20, 2024
Excellent in defensive duels
Yoro won 100% of his duels and 100% of his tackles during the pre-season friendly, while he also made two recoveries during his 45 minutes on the field.
The defender had two particularly impressive moments in the opening half, producing an excellent tackle to clear ahead of Cyriel Dessers in the 10th minute, before making a strong block to deny the same player in the 37th minute.
Yoro was aggressive with his defending and very much on the front foot, but when needed, his pace and ability to tackle from unconventional angles was on full display during an encouraging debut.
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Slotted effortlessly into Man United team
Perhaps more impressive than his defensive work and on-the-ball ability was his temperament.
Yoro appeared that he has been in the Man United side for years, as he settled effortlessly into life in the middle of the Red Devils defence.
There will, of course, be tougher tests to come during pre-season and beyond, and it will be fascinating to see how the defender performs during the pre-season tour of the United States.
However, it is clear that his teammates trust him, as they continued to work the ball into him in tight areas, and it is thought that the youngster made a big impression during his first training session on Friday.
Matt Law
