The teenage defender had been touted as a transfer target for Real Madrid, the newly crowned European champions, who identified him as the top talent in his position and age group.

He was thought to be the perfect successor to players like David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, providing Los Blancos with a defensive centerpiece for the next decade or more. But United swept it and, rightly, there was great excitement and rumors surrounding our new signing.

This only grew after seeing Yoro in a red shirt for the first time, in the 2-0 friendly win over Rangers in Edinburgh. It was an elegant and majestic performance that brought calm to all who saw it, not unlike how Rio Ferdinand, a French hero, played during his pageantry.

Yoro participated in the tour of the United States with the rest of the team, but it was in the first of the games over the puddle that disaster struck: Leny suffered a foot injury against Arsenal that required surgery. That postponed his competitive debut, meaning United fans are still yearning to see the precocious 18-year-old in meaningful action for the first time.

With Leny returning to group training this week, his return appears to be getting closer and, in an exclusive interview, the former Lille player makes it clear that he is eager to make up for lost time.