Revealed: How Man United CEO Omar Berrada made signing £52m Leny Yoro 'his personal project', which saw him convince the starlet to turn down dream move to Real Madrid

Manchester United's new chief executive Omar Berrada made Leny Yoro his 'personal project' and refused to give up on the 18-year-old Lille defender until he was a Red Devils player, Spanish reports have claimed.

Berrada, whose arrival at Old Trafford in January came as part of the club's seismic restructure under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, was reportedly keen to make a coup during his first summer with United after identifying Yoro as a key target in the transfer window.

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Berrada discovered from Yoro's agent Jorge Mendes that the player's summer priority was to sign for Real Madrid, with the same message being passed on to transfer rivals Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

Marca claims that the ex-Manchester City chief, eager to endear himself to United supporters and build excitement around the new era under INEOS, refused to give up in the race for Yoro's signature and persuaded the defender to sign a five-year contract, offering Lille an initial fee of £42million with £10m in add-ons.

The newspaper also wrote in a separate report earlier this week that Lille threatened not to play Yoro for a year if he refused to sign for United in favour of Real Madrid.

Last season's LaLiga and Champions League winners, who unveiled Kylian Mbappe as their new superstar at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, are understood to be surprised and disappointed after missing out on the Frenchman.

Madrid had trusted Yoro's word after reaching a verbal agreement with the player and offered Lille a total package approximately half the value of Manchester United's £52m bid.

The Spanish club's approach was reportedly several months in the making, similar to processes they went through when signing Jude Bellingham, 21, and Aurelien Tchouameni, 24.

Yoro's move, which is set to be announced by United on Friday, will be the club's second signing of the summer transfer window after Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee arrived at Old Trafford for £36.5m.

The club are interested in signing a second centre-back, having held talks with Bayern Munich over £42m-rated Matthijs de Ligt and seeing two offers of up to £50m for Jarrad Branthwaite rejected by Everton. 

United have rejected an offer from Fulham for Scott McTominay, which is believed to be lower than the £30m bid they turned down from West Ham a year ago, while the Hammers are weighing up a £15m move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

United hope to sign a defensive midfielder and right-back this summer, and will consider offers for McTominay and Wan-Bissaka if they match the quality and value of their players.