Real Madrid News
Reason why Leny Yoro snubbed Real Madrid to sign for Manchester United – report
Real Madrid are currently facing significant challenges due to player injuries, particularly in their defence, as both Eder Militao and David Alaba are sidelined, leaving a noticeable gap in their backline.
The club had anticipated this issue and sought a solution by aiming to sign a replacement. They reached an agreement with Leny Yoro, a promising young central defender from Lille, but the defender chose to join Manchester United instead.
Recent reports from Mundo Deportivo shed light on why the 18-year-old opted for the Premier League over Real Madrid.
Why did Yoro join Manchester United?
Initially, everything seemed to point towards Yoro signing with the Spanish giants. Real Madrid had successfully impressed him and looked set to bring him on board. Yet, Yoro’s final decision was to sign with Manchester United.
A few months after the move, it has been reported that a significant factor in Yoro’s decision was the financial offer from Real Madrid.
The club had proposed a salary of only €2.5 million per year. In contrast, Manchester United offered him a considerably higher salary of €9.5 million annually.
This substantial difference in pay ultimately swayed Yoro’s decision, despite his injury during the pre-season that has delayed his debut at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s financial power was decisive in this case. They paid €50 million plus an additional €12 million in variables to Lille to secure Yoro’s services.
This financial clout allowed them to outbid Real Madrid and secure a player who could have been a valuable addition to the Madrid squad.
On the other hand, Real Madrid remain confident in their strategy. The club is known for making strategic signings rather than impulsive ones, ensuring that their investments are well thought out and expected to yield returns.
Only time will tell if their decision to pass on Yoro was the right one or if the young defender’s choice will prove to be a missed opportunity for Los Blancos.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
