Rio Ferdinand responds to Man United nearing £52m deal to sign Leny Yoro... as fans hail the 18-year-old star as a 'generational talent' after watching his highlights reel

Rio Ferdinand has taken to social media to respond to the news of Lille defender Leny Yoro's impending move to Manchester United.  

The 18-year-old is flying to England to have a medical and finalise personal terms over a move to United worth up £52million.

Lille accepted United’s offer of £42m plus £10m in add-ons for the 18-year-old French centre-back last week, but there were concerns that Yoro’s preference was to join Real Madrid.

However, United have moved swiftly to get the deal done and are hopeful of signing him on a five-year contract with the option to extend it by another 12 months. 

Ferdinand last week urged Yoro to join United, saying: 'If you're looking Leny Yoro, please accept and come to Man United, please. 

'Man United, please, make the offer and please accept because this kid, I think his ceiling is as high as anybody right now, including (William) Saliba.'

The former Red Devils defender tweeted an eye and wink emoji on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the latest development on Yoro's future. 

United fans also took to social media to hail Yoro as a 'generational talent' after watching his highlights reel. 

One said wrote: '"Madrid always get what they want" but we're now close to beating them to the Leny Yoro signing. We're MAN UNITED!!'

A second fan posted: He is at the right age with immense talent. Hopefully he will live up to expectations and becomes a stalwart at Man Utd. Good luck to him. 

A third said: 'INEOS took over and got Manchester United to BEAT Real Madrid to the signing of Leny Yoro — a highly rated youngster — where Liverpool and PSG even gave up and pulled out because "no one competes with Real Madrid." Sir Jim Ratcliffe, I'm SORRY for every doubting you'

Yoro, who made 41 appearances for Lille last season, was also attracting interest from Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

He is set to become United’s second signing of the summer after Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee moved to Old Trafford for £36.5m. 

Yoro had been waiting on Madrid to match United's bid, but Lille pushed the defender to join the Red Devils with the Champions League winners unwilling to pay the fee.

He was Liverpool's prime target, too, but the Reds are understood to have been convinced he only wanted to move to Spain.

Madrid were believed to be more interested in waiting to recruit the 18-year-old next summer when he would have become a free agent, which in turn will saw Lille push to get United's deal over the line sooner rather than later.

Yoro made his debut for the Lille reserve team in 2022, signing his first professional contract with the club in January of that year.