Leni Yoro made quite the impression on his debut for the French national team, featuring in a 4-1 Nations League triumph against Belgium. The 20-year-old Manchester United defender notched up 11 defensive actions, the best in the squad, sharing the spotlight with another teammate.
RMC Sport rated Yoro's performance at six out of ten, highlighting not only his efforts against Romelu Lukaku but also his proactive play in advancing the ball, particularly down the right flank.
After the match, Yoro shared his delight at the experience:
I don’t think I could have wished for anything better. A home match against Belgium, with my family in the stands.
The game itself was fantastic. Of course, I wanted to keep a clean sheet, but we won, so we can’t really complain. It was amazing.
This promising debut could solidify Yoro’s position under Zinedine Zidane’s reign ahead of the international break in November. France currently tops their Nations League group and will face Italy away on November 12.
For the young defender, representing his country carries added significance as he has been struggling for game time at Manchester United. This season, Yoro has yet to start for Michael Carrick's side in the Premier League, clocking just 22 minutes across matches against Ipswich and Everton.
Despite this, he started in the fixtures against Sabah in the Champions League and Brighton in the League Cup. There have also been unconfirmed reports suggesting Yoro is not entirely content with his current role at the club.
Manchester United secured Yoro from Lille in the summer of 2024 for €62 million. Since joining, he has appeared in 70 matches and scored once, with his contract running until 2029.
Now, Yoro returns to Manchester, eager to channel the momentum from his successful debut for France as he strives to change his fortunes at the club. The Red Devils will host Tottenham in the Premier League this Saturday.
