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Harry Maguire expects Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to form Manchester United’s centre-back partnership in ‘five or six years time’.
Yoro, 20, and 19-year-old Heaven are two of the most highly-rated players at Old Trafford.
French defender Yoro has already made over 60 appearances for the Red Devils following his £52m move from Lille in 2024.
Champions League giants Liverpool, Real Madrid and PSG were all interested in Yoro but United won the race, securing his signature on a five-year contract.
Yoro broke his foot during a pre-season game just two weeks after joining Manchester United but has impressed since then, playing in Ruben Amorim’s back-three and keeping his place in the team under current boss Michael Carrick.
Heaven, meanwhile, has made 17 appearances for United this season, having moved to Manchester from Premier League rivals Arsenal in 2025.
Experienced England defender Maguire believes Yoro and Heaven both have ‘amazing futures’ ahead of them and spoke particularly glowingly of Yoro.
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‘Leny Yoro has all the attributes, the talent, and the potential to have whatever career he wants,’ ex-Manchester United captain Maguire told DHL Express.
‘It’s exceptional to see someone playing centre-back in the Premier League at his age, especially at a club like Manchester United.
‘He’s doing an amazing job and there is still so much more he can improve on. Hopefully, in 10 or 15 years’ time, we’re sitting here putting his name in that bracket of the all-time greats.’
Turning his attentions to fellow United defender Heaven, Maguire added: ‘I’ve been very impressed with Ayden Heaven since he broke into the team.
‘In five or six years’ time, I believe he and Leny Yoro could be the central defensive partnership for this club.
‘The talent is there; now it’s down to them to keep working hard and pushing. They both have amazing futures ahead of them here.’
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Maguire’s Manchester United career after he was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in 2023 but he is now enjoying one of his best ever seasons at Old Trafford.
Maguire’s United contract was set to expire in the summer but the 33 year-old has agreed a new one-year deal with the club until June 2027, with the option for a further year.
‘Leadership is vital in the dressing room and around the club because you don’t win anything without people who set high standards and help the younger lads feel confident on the pitch,’ Maguire said of his role in the squad.
‘The best teams always have a balance of great leaders and experience within the squad.’
Manchester United were stagnating under Amorim but have improved drastically since Carrick was appointed as caretaker manager, qualifying for next season’s Champions League with three games to spare.
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