Troy Deeney has said he 'feels sorry' for Leny Yoro, claiming the Manchester United defender has nobody to 'learn off' at the club. The former Watford striker believes the £52m signing is struggling without experienced centre-backs to guide him.
Yoro's Difficult Start at United
United beat Real Madrid to sign Yoro from Lille in 2024, paying a £52million fee for a player who had made just 60 appearances for the French club. The centre-back was considered one of Europe's most highly-rated young defenders at the time of his move.
Since arriving, Yoro has worked under three different managers at Old Trafford. Recently, he has been deployed as a makeshift right-back due to injuries in Michael Carrick's defence.
Deeney's Verdict
'Leny Yoro, decent, but he has no chance,' Deeney told SunSport. 'By the way, this kid is playing for France for Zinedine Zidane. He has no chance to look around and go, how do I learn here? Who do I learn off? So you feel sorry for him.'
Petit's Comparison
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has echoed Deeney's views, comparing Yoro's situation to that of fellow Frenchman Jeremy Jacquet, who has impressed at Liverpool. Petit told Betfred: 'They're two players facing two different situations. Jeremy Jacquet has been brilliant so far for Liverpool and it was the same during the international break because he impressed a lot, honestly. Everything is good for him, he's full of confidence and you can see that.'
'For Leny Yoro it's different. He's had spells when he's injured and sometimes he's playing at right-back and sometimes he's playing at centre-back. When you look at the lack of stability of the club he's playing for and the lack of confidence around the group, is it Leny Yoro's responsibility to raise his level when you see other players who are also not playing at a high level?'
Petit added: 'If Jacquet was at Manchester United would it be the same in terms of his form? If Leny Yoro was playing for Liverpool would it be different? I think it definitely would be and he would be thriving as well.'
