Leny Yoro: How have foreign teenage transfers fared at Old Trafford?

Despite their notorious reputation for overpaying on transfers, Manchester United have cut a fairly prudent figure when dealing with teenage superstars, historically signing just four youngsters for a sum of £20 million or more. This is in line with the club's status as the best for youth development in England.

That total rose to five in 2024 following the Red Devils’ signing of French wonderkid Leny Yoro in a deal that places him second costliest only to the departing Anthony Martial among the club's teenage arrivals.

The 18-year-old lanky defender had a barnstorming season for Lille in Ligue 1, starting 32 of the club's 38 games and securing them qualification for the Champions League for the first time since winning the title in 2021.

Although famed transfer expert Fabrizio Romano disclosed that Real Madrid were the player's first option, Manchester United were able to get him because they were the only team ready to pay Lille's exorbitant fee.

The youngster joins Joshua Zirkzee in a novel acquisition strategy spearheaded by the new management of the INEOS Group.

However, although Manchester United remains, on paper, one of the world's most powerful teams, they have developed a reputation as a cemetery for young footballing prodigies.

In this article, we examine how well youngsters have fared at Old Trafford after the Manchester club spent big on their acquisitions.

With the chasmic physiological and psychological pressure imposed on players signed from overseas compared to their local counterparts, this piece examines the United careers of only Anderson and Anthony Martial's, evaluating how they performed under the bright floodlights of the towering Theatre of Dreams. 

Anderson

Anderson became a symbol of Manchester United's decline following famous manager Alex Ferguson's resignation from the club after 27 years in charge. In 2007, the former Gremio player signed a million-dollar contract with Old Trafford with the goal of becoming a new club hero.

However, the midfielder's future at England's most successful club seemed bleak as his time at United came to an end after a £26 million disappointment. In theory, Anderson should have been at the top of his career when he left United at the age of 26.

Many English-language media sites cited the Brazilian player—who participated in the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Copa America 2007—as an epitome of United's shocking collapse.

High expectations plagued the young midfielder's career since his breakthrough performance in the 2005 Série B match between Gremio and Náutico, nicknamed the "Battle of the Aflitos." 

For context, Manchester United spent more on Anderson than they did on Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, their two most important players over the previous two decades. The Red Devils paid Sporting £12.24 million for the young Portuguese player, and the following season, they paid Everton £25.6 million for the striker. 

Anderson signed at Old Trafford in the hopes of becoming a modern-day counterpart to Roy Keane or Paul Schloles, two players who won championships with United in the 1990s and were known for their dynamic midfield play but reserved positions. Coach Alex Ferguson saw the then-Brazilian attacking midfielder's ability to become just that.

Initially, Anderson excelled in this role, dominating Cesc Fàbregas in duels during feisty Arsenal-United derbies. However, the Brazilian would go on to struggle and was never able to establish himself.

To comprehend the Anderson catastrophe in England, one must study the physical elements that contributed to the collapse. 

The Brazilian struggled to acclimatise to English football, in part due to his fascination with fast food, which the UK's Daily Mail described as an excessive obsession. 

In addition to unhealthy eating habits, the former Gremio player struggled with his knees, thighs, and calves during his tenure at United. Despite making 71 appearances as a starter for Manchester, the Brazilian only completed 20 of them.

Nonetheless, Anderson was unable to establish his utility even when completely fit throughout David Moyes' stint as Alex Ferguson's first replacement. As a result, he spent part of his second-to-last season on loan with Italian club Fiorentina, where he also struggled to establish himself.

Despite his own fall from grace, Anderson played for United for a long time. In England, he was close friends with Portugal great Cristiano Ronaldo and celebrated four league championships, a Champions League, two League Cups, a Club World Cup, and two Community Shields. 

Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial, who joined the club in 2015 for a total of £44.1 million plus £14.7 million in incentives, became the most expensive teenager in professional football history. Having falling short of expectations, he left for free at the end of the just-concluded 2023–24 season.

In 2015, Martial was 19 years old and seemed to be ready to take on the world. After only one fantastic season at top level, he became the cynosure of the eyes of Europe's biggest clubs.

Manchester United quickly snapped him up, and paid Monaco around 80 million euros in fixed and variable payments. It was a large sum of money, but analysts believed that if he performed to his full potential, Manchester United would recoup their investment. 

Despite often wearing jersey number nine, Martial is hardly that kind of player, as he scored nine goals in 35 appearances for Monaco. Manchester United sought a striker, particularly one who could compete with the opposition's centre backs. However, Martial was constantly on the losing end of these battles. 

His speed in space, ability to dribble past opponents, and uncontested runs made him one of Europe's most promising young prospects. However, he has been most effective when teamed with another striker or playing on the flanks. Despite repeated requests, he failed to score goals, at least not in sufficient numbers. 

He has always battled with consistency with his record-breaking season in 2019–20 turning out to be a fluke, as having scored 17 goals in 32 league games, he only scored four goals in the following campaign. 

Despite the sheer amount of coaches to have traversed the corridors of Old Trafford, none of them have been able to unlock his full talent, and he has also been unable to adjust to their expectations. 

Despite being 28 years old, Antony Martial has struggled to adapt to the changing face of football. The significance of physical fitness in football is growing, but Martial's performance is deteriorating: he is getting slower, making fewer movements, and merely adhering to the basics.

On the flanks, he doesn't dribble like an inside forward or burst into action like a winger. When he played through the middle, he struggled to score or set up goals. 

Just like with Leny Yoro, United paid first, then asked questions later. 

Verdict: Is Manchester United a graveyard for teenagers

Based on how Manchester United has handled Anderson and Anthony Martial, one might argue that the club has difficulty developing teenage prodigies into top players, hence the rising concerns about Leny Yoro. 

Nonetheless, it would be a mistake to characterise the club as a "graveyard for teenagers" without taking into account its more complicated challenges and triumphs.

The case with Anderson

Anderson's experience at Manchester United sheds light on numerous important aspects: 

1. High expectations and initial promise: Anderson was a Brazilian international and a star at Grêmio; thus, there were high expectations for him when he joined. His expensive transfer fee indicated the club's belief in his potential to be a destructive force in the centre of the field.
2. Injury and fitness issues: Anderson struggled to maintain his fitness and avoid injuries during his tenure at United. In addition to these issues, he was unable to maintain excellent physical condition owing to his reported unhealthy eating habits.
3. Inconsistency: Despite his spectacular moments, Anderson's performances were inconsistent. His inability to adapt and maintain his shape contributed to his downfall.
4. Changing management: The transition from Alex Ferguson to David Moyes and subsequent managers did not stabilise Anderson's career. He may have failed to maintain a solid position as a result of differing management approaches and expectations. 

The case with Anthony Martial

Some elements of Martial's narrative, comparable to Record-breaking transfer: United's conviction in Martial's potential was evident in his record-breaking acquisition, which saw them spend a then-record fee for a teenager to join the club. His early performances created the notion that he may be as gifted as everyone said. 

1. Talent mismanagement: The club regularly shifted Martial out of his natural position, lowering his self-confidence and dependability. It was a mismatch between his abilities as a winger or second striker and the club's need for a centre striker.  
2. Injury and form: Martial, like Anderson, also suffered from injuries and had periods of poor form. His inconsistency was on full display when his performance dropped dramatically after his best season (2019–2020).
3. Football evolution: The ever-increasing physical demands of modern football did not motivate Martial to change his playing style. He fell out of favour, in part because he was unable to adapt to new physical demands and tactical setups.

How does this affect Leny Yoro

United's recent acquisition of Leny Yoro has revived some previous concerns. Yoro's lofty expectations and high price tag show United's confidence in his ability, just as they were for Anderson and Martial.

Young players at United, or any club for that matter, may feel enormous pressure to succeed, so Yoro has an uphill struggle to thrive at the club, given its track record with young talent.

United must avoid the errors made with Anderson and Martial by providing Yoro with the appropriate growth tools, such as consistent support, solid positioning, and a pressure-free environment in which to refine his skills.