Comparisons at Manchester United are rarely made lightly—especially when they involve Wayne Rooney. But former United centre-back Mikael Silvestre has done just that, drawing parallels between the Red Devils ‘ all-time top scorer and teenage sensation Leny Yoro.
The French centre-back appears to have re-established his place in the side following Lisandro Martinez’s injury, featuring in each of the last five matches and starting four of them.
It was his most recent outing against Aston Villa that truly caught the eye. Yoro delivered one of his standout performances in a United shirt, registering five clearances, three interceptions, two tackles and a crucial last-man challenge as United ran out comfortable 3-1 winners, strengthening their hold on the Champions League places.
For a player still in his teens, he is already showing the maturity and composure that invite comparisons to the all-time greats.
Why Rooney?
In the latest episode of the Inside Carrington podcast, Mikael Silvestre spoke highly of Yoro, recalling watching him make his debut as a 16-year-old.
“I am not going to say much, or he is going to stop working,” Silvestre chuckles to the camera. “He has been a bright star in France, what struck me early on is the maturity he was showing at such a young age.
“What I like about him is his composure. The understanding of the game and the calmness, because at the back, the manager’s not going to put you in if you’re making mistakes. You need to be there straight away, and that’s what he did.”
He added:
“You check his date of birth, and you are like, ‘Are you sure?’ It was the same with Wazza [Wayne Rooney]. Even if Wazza was a bit more agitated on the pitch. It’s the way you perform, you think, ‘no, this boy is not 16 or 17.’”
Silvestre concluded: “With Leny, it was like this in Ligue 1, straightaway.”
Now, obviously Rooney and Yoro are completely different players—despite the fact that the Frenchman recalled how he used to play as a forward when he was younger—but it is the level of maturity and composure that both players showed at a young age that equates them.
Another former United defender joined Silvestre in praising Yoro.
“When I watch Leny, as a defender, it’s always difficult coming in at a young age. But first of all, you’re looking at the attributes, and he’s got all of them; he’s tall and quick,” Wes Brown said on the podcast.
“You just hope he stays fit and he’ll be in the United shirt for many, many years. He’s been fantastic every time he’s played, especially the West Ham game.”
Yoro’s Next Test
With Martinez likely to return from injury over the international break, Yoro could find himself back on the sidelines once again. But recent performances have given Michael Carrick plenty to think about, with the teenager making a compelling case to stay in the side.
The young Frenchman must make every opportunity count, delivering standout performances and helping Manchester United return to European prominence as they push to qualify for the pinnacle of club football.
