Manchester United players begin their pre-season preparations this week with a busy summer schedule ahead.
With less than six weeks to go until Manchester United face Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League calendar, pre-season training has officially begun.
The majority of United players returned to Carrington on Monday, while some who took part in the international fixtures have been granted a few extra days of holiday.
Ruben Amorim will hold training at a newly-renovated Carrington following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £50m investment project.
The Red Devils will have a week and a half of training before facing Leeds United in the first friendly of the summer. After that, the squad will jet off to the United States.
How Man United squad compares to 2024 pre-season
Despite Amorim wanting transfers to be done before training began, the only addition made so far this summer is the £62.5m deal for Matheus Cunha.
Cunha will hope to make his United debut against Leeds later this month, and there is still an outside chance he could be joined by Bryan Mbeumo if a deal is struck by Ineos.
It can hardly be considered a ‘new-look’ side, but the squad will look very different to the side that lined up in the first pre-season fixture in 2024.
Last summer, United lost 1-0 to Rosenborg in what was a very underwhelming start to pre-season. Manager Erik ten Hag fielded a very young side in Norway that is now nearly unrecognisable.
Interestingly, none of United’s back line are still at the club, highlighting the changes made over the past 12 months.
What happened to Man United’s starting line-up vs Rosenborg
Ten Hag started with a back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Will Fish, Jonny Evans and Sam Murray against Rosenborg, and all four have since departed.
Wan-Bissaka was sold to West Ham for £15m later that summer, while veteran Evans retired from football at the end of last season. He has since picked up a role working with academy loans.
Youngsters Fish and Murray have also left Old Trafford over the past year.
Fish was sold to Cardiff City, with the youngster becoming a regular starter at the Welsh club last season. As for Murray, he joined Carlisle United this summer with his contract at Old Trafford expiring.
Hannibal Mejbri joined Burnley last summer, as well, marking the end of his five-year spell with the Red Devils.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/NUOmMCk