Man United have released training footage from pre-season at Carrington and here are five things we spotted.
Diego Leon has trained with the first-team.(Image: Manchester United)
Manchester United have enjoyed a week of training in tropical conditions at Carrington.
Hot weather has swept across the United Kingdom as Ruben Amorim prepares his players for their opening pre-season friendly of the summer against Leeds in Stockholm on July 19.
All of the squad have now reported back to Carrington, with the exception of those who wish to explore a move away this summer, and spirits seemed high in the training footage released by club media.
So here are five things we spotted in training at Carrington…
The welcome back
Altay Bayindir, Casemiro, Diogo Dalot, Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund and Chido Obi all reported back to Carrington for pre-season on Thursday morning.
The players who were on international duty at the end of last season were given extra time to enjoy a break.
The ‘welcome back tunnel’ has become a tradition for players who return from injury at Carrington, but it was rolled out for those who returned from international duty on a sun-kissed pitch.
The ‘welcome back tunnel’.Hojlund takes his chances
Hojlund spectacularly regressed last season, scoring just four goals in the Premier League, and a move to Italian club Inter Milan could be on the cards in the summer transfer window.
It feels more likely that Hojlund will stay and fight for a starting place, though. The 22-year-old recently played down suggestions he could leave United when he spoke to Danish media and his finishing must improve if he stays.
Perhaps that’s why United included footage of Hojlund finding the back of the net on three successive occasions in a training drill, with the striker blasting past Radek Vitek.
New signing Leon involved
Earlier this month, new signing Diego Leon promised he would “kill it” in pre-season to impress Amorim.
United agreed a £3.3million fee, rising to £7m with add-ons, with Cerro Porteno and Leon is expected to be assessed in the coming weeks before a final decision is made on his next steps.
Leon is clearly not short of confidence and it will be impressive if he can earn a first-team role.
Leon (pictured on the left) with fellow new signing Cunha.Lacey takes part in the session
Could this be the season that Shea Lacey makes a highly anticipated first-team debut? Followers of the academy will hope so, although Lacey is yet to make an appearance for the Under-21s.
That has been circumstantial – Lacey was wrapped up in cotton wool at the end of last season – but it would be unheard of for an academy player to make a first-team debut without playing for the U21s.
Nonetheless, Lacey is not an ordinary talent and it’s exciting to see him around the first-team set up.
Lacey has a bright future ahead of him.Amad’s birthday bash
Amad celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday and was treated to a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’.
The winger’s teammates and club staff serenaded the popular Amad as he clapped along himself.
Amad was one of the only players to emerge from last season with credit. He was superb until sustaining an ankle injury in training in February and should be a key player again in 2025/2026.
Amad celebrated his birthday.