Manchester United defender, Leny Yoro, arrived at the club in a £52 million deal last summer. However, his connection to the Old Trafford club dates back to his childhood when he was nicknamed after one of its former players.
Yoro was not just given the nickname 'Nani' because he sported a similar haircut as the former Old Trafford winger. The French centre-back revealed that growing up in Alfortville, a suburb of Paris, his ambition was not to prevent goals but rather score them. As a 19-year-old learning his trade and aspiring to be like Kylian Mbappe, Yoro fancied himself as an attacking winger. His friends saw this ambition and started calling him Nani.
Manchester United defender, Leny Yoro, said:
“I was playing as a striker when I was really young. Like a winger. Yeah, I was quick.
“Maybe not as quick as Mbappe - but people were calling me Nani because I had the same hair - and I was fast.”
The original Nani is none other than the Portuguese international who followed Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps when he moved from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United in 2007 for £20 million. During eight glorious years at Old Trafford, Nani won four Premier League titles and one Champions League title. Yoro shared these insights while appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast presented by Qatar Airways.
Challenges faced by Yoro at Manchester United
Despite being influenced by an attacking player like Nani, Yoro has yet had any opportunities to copy Nani’s trademark somersault goal celebration since being signed by Erik the Hag due to injuries. These setbacks have made it challenging for him to bring his best game forward for Manchester United under new boss Ruben Amorim.
However, despite these challenges and continuous struggles faced by Amorim's team inherited from Erik Hag - including their recent 3-1 victory over Southampton which tested Yoro's character - he remains committed towards improving himself as seen through how he watched footage of the game to learn from his mistakes.
Leny Yoro's journey from being a young boy nicknamed Nani in Paris to becoming a defender for Manchester United is an inspiring story. Despite the challenges he has faced, his determination and commitment towards self-improvement are commendable. As sports fans and sports betting fans alike watch his progress, they can look forward to seeing how this young player develops and contributes to Manchester United's future success.
