Leny Yoro, 18, a £52.2m signing on Thursday. Jadon Sancho, 24, a £73m signing in 2021 returning from exile. This second Manchester United pre-season warm-up offered an intriguing juxtaposition. It featured Yoro, whose CV shows 46 games for Lille, playing alongside Sancho, whose previous action was for Borussia Dortmund when losing June’s Champions League final to Real Madrid.
Yoro is the latest recruit to the United story, a 6ft 3in defender on whom the club splurged approximately double Real’s reported valuation to win his signature. Wisdom or folly? This was a chance to see, as he debuted alongside Sancho, whose United tale became checkered after he called Erik ten Hag a liar last September.
When a player returns after a lengthy absence, a managerial cliche is to describe him as a “new signing”. It derives from optimism at having an option missing for so long again in the ranks. So Sancho’s mission versus Rangers was to indicate he will fall into this category, as he donned United colours for a first time since being a 60th-minute substitute in August.
Last week’s rapprochement with Ten Hag was followed by him operating on the left, his favoured position. A lively blend of flicks and runs ensued, the lad from Camberwell sometimes wandering crossfield with the fluidity Ten Hag wants. It was noticeable, too, when Aaron Wan-Bissaka jogged in from right-back to make an extra midfielder.
In range of pass and composure Yoro appears a centre-back of the Rio Ferdinand school, the defender who is the Frenchman’s idol. Fielded in the right of central defence, one sweeping diagonal sent Sam Murray scampering down his left-back channel. Then, later, came an intervention that augurs brightly – for the player and United’s prospects. In a rare foray, Rangers turned United, as Cyriel Dessers ran towards André Onana’s goal but Yoro’s pace eased him alongside and allowed a toe-poke to safety.
Further similarities to Ferdinand came when carrying the ball into the opposition’s half, a sight not seen regularly from any United centre-back since the days of the former captain.
By the break, Yoro and Sancho had clocked off for the day, Ten Hag changing all 10 outfield players for the second period, as he did for Monday’s 1-0 loss at Rosenborg. Yoro had impressed, too, via a gut-busting run back from a United corner when Rangers broke.
Sancho’s outing ended with him spooning a chance over the bar. More than a year has passed since he last started for United and his Premier League numbers read an underwhelming nine goals and six assists in 58 appearances. Yet beyond Alejandro Garnacho, you can see a pathway back for Sancho if he turns it on, as Marcus Rashford (eight goals in all competitions last season) and Antony (three), have much to prove. Of Sancho, Ten Hag says: “I hope it will click and contribute to our success.”
These are early days but Yoro appears able to do precisely this, as here another winger, Amad Diallo, set United on the way: his cut-in from the right to beat Jack Butland reminiscent of Bukayo Saka for England versus Switzerland at Euro 2024. Then, after the interval, a ruthless Joe Hugill strike ensured there was no repeat of the Rosenborg reverse that caused Ten Hag to vent disenchantment afterwards.
Next is Wednesday’s flight to Los Angeles for United’s summer tour, where they play Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool. By the end, we will have more clues as to how the coming season may unfold.
