Leny Yoro informs Lille he wants to join Real Madrid

At just 18 years of age, Leny Yoro has already made 50 official appearances for Lille's first team. He reached the milestone last Thursday in the Conference League clash against Sturm Graz and will be hoping to add to that tally against Brest on Sunday. The defender is focused on football, but it is impossible for him to remain oblivious to all that is going on around him. In fact, he has already taken part in it.

In recent months, there has been a lot of talk about the interest of clubs like PSG, Chelsea or Real Madrid in signing him. According to the newspaper 'Marca', the player from Saint-Maurice is very clear about what he wants his future to be and has chosen the 'Merengues' as his next destination. Apparently, Yoro has openly told the Lille board that he wants to play in the Spanish capital next season.

All this serves to focus the operation on the side that Real Madrid are interested in. According to the aforementioned media, the French side's board were asking for around 100 million euros for the transfer of the centre-back, but he and his entourage are pushing to make the deal cheaper and bring it closer to a more affordable figure.

The first thing is that Yoro is refusing to renew his contract despite pressure from the club. The France U21 international's contract with Lille expires on 30th June 2025, so this summer would be the last one in which Lille would be able to get a financial compensation for him. Real Madrid, who are following the same strategy with Alphonso Davies, are aiming for a transfer fee of between 30 and 40 million euros, but no more.

 

March 17, 2024

One of the factors that have come into play is the involvement of Jorge Mendes. Initially, Madrid's board saw the Portuguese as a threat because their relationship had deteriorated in recent years. However, the Portuguese agent is not going to be an obstacle and has already been in talks with Real Madrid to discuss this deal. Moreover, let's remember that he still has players in the 'Merengues' youth academy such as the youth Paulo Iago.

Emissaries from PSG or Chelsea have spoken to Leny Yoro's camp and his answer is always the same: he only thinks about Real Madrid. This season he is standing out and has settled in the starting eleven under Paulo Fonseca after a couple of years of early maturation. He made his debut in May 2022 at the age of 16 and at 18 he is already leading the back line of the French club, fourth in Ligue 1 and quarter-finalist in the Conference League. He has the makings of something big (beyond his 1.90m height) and that is why the Spanish giants are doing everything they can to convince him... and his team.