{"id":253339,"date":"2025-07-10T11:25:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T11:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/253339\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T11:25:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T11:25:13","slug":"jim-ratcliffe-makes-unexpected-leeds-united-decision-ahead-of-man-united-friendly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/253339\/","title":{"rendered":"Jim Ratcliffe makes unexpected Leeds United decision ahead of Man United friendly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leeds United will soon kick-off the 2025\/26 campaign with a pre-season friendly against Manchester United.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After facing off in Oslo in 2023, the two bitter rivals will come face-to-face in pre-season once again before the Premier League<\/a> season.<\/p>\n

Leeds vs Man United will take place in Stockholm<\/a>, as the Strawberry Arena will be host to the clash.<\/p>\n

50,000 people will watch on as Whites fans can get a glimpse at their four new arrivals, but by the 19th of July, there is sure to be more additions.<\/p>\n

However, before the game takes place, Man United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has made a strange decision against Leeds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"ManPhoto by OLI SCARFF\/AFP via Getty ImagesJim Ratcliffe\u2019s unexpected decision for Man United vs Leeds United<\/p>\n

Despite it being a friendly, there will be nothing friendly about the game when Daniel Farke<\/a> meets Ruben Amorim for the first time.<\/p>\n

Of course, they will meet again in the Premier League, but some early bragging rights can take place.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f LEEDS UNITED FACE MAN UNITED IN SWEDEN<\/p>\n

Leeds United announce pre-season friendly v Manchester United in Stockholm.<\/p>\n

The fixture will be played at Sweden’s national stadium the Strawberry Arena.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f Saturday July 19th
\ud83d\udd52 KO: 3pm (local time)#LUFC<\/a> | #BBCFootball<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/G9nHdIc7L9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) March 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES<\/p>\n

With anticipation building, Leeds\u2019 predicted XI for Man United<\/a> will surely include the new arrivals of Gabriel Gudmundsson<\/a> and potentially transfer target Sean Longstaff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, his signing has been thrown into doubt with another bid rejected, but the 49ers<\/a> could continue their pursuit.<\/p>\n

Away from the transfer side of things, a decision has been made by Ratcliffe that is certainly unusual for the Red Devils.<\/p>\n

talkSPORT<\/a> has revealed that due to Man United\u2019s continuous cost-cutting, Leeds will fall as the first victim to Ratcliffe abandoning \u2018traditional gift-giving\u2019 as part of their pre-season plans.<\/p>\n

A normal pre-season for the Manchester club consists of exchanging the likes of personalised shirts or other club merchandise, while some even create custom items specific to each friendly, including silverware.<\/p>\n

But starting with the friendly in Stockholm against Leeds, this gift-giving won\u2019t take place as Man United plan to instead put some budget towards hosting Leeds\u2019 executives, starting with a planned drinks reception in Stockholm.<\/p>\n

The outlet reports there is a feeling that pre-season gifts to familiar foes are \u2018needless\u2019 and even \u2018old-fashioned\u2019, with the Whites potentially raising an eyebrow to the change.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Leeds United desperately trying to avoid PSR implication as player exit becomes complicated<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ratcliffe decision could add more rivalry to Man United vs Leeds<\/p>\n

It\u2019s certainly not a surprise that Ratcliffe had to make this decision, as his regime in Manchester seems to be all about saving money.<\/p>\n

For once, Leeds seem to be in a much better position than their rivals, as fans would even back their side to finish above Amorim\u2019s team.<\/p>\n

The Whites will be hoping they can get one over their rivals, whom they haven\u2019t beaten since Jermaine Beckford\u2019s<\/a> famous winning goal in the FA Cup in 2010, which silenced Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

But with their gift-exchanging not taking place, for Leeds to be the first one will surely make this seem less like a friendly, and instead gives Farke the chance to show his team\u2019s fighting spirit.<\/p>\n

This season, the Whites faithful will be hoping their 15-year drought will end with a win over United, as they have shown glimmers in recent years.<\/p>\n

Man United is always a key fixture for Leeds<\/a>, and Ratcliffe might have made the 25\/26 opener just that little bit more tastier.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n