![\"Ruben](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2228389441.jpg\")
Ruben Amorim has experimented this summer.(Image: Kevin C. Cox – Premier League\/Getty Images.)<\/p>\nMan United head coach Ruben Amorim appears to still be searching for answers to his midfield conundrum.<\/p>\n
George is a Senior Football Writer for the Manchester Evening News, mostly covering Manchester United. He previously worked for football.london before joining the MEN team in July 2021. As well as covering United, George is a Championship-enthusiast and co-hosts The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24), which you can find on all major podcast platforms.<\/p>\n
Ruben Amorim has experimented this summer.(Image: Kevin C. Cox – Premier League\/Getty Images.)<\/p>\n
Pre-season is all about experimenting and Ruben Amorim did plenty of that during Manchester United’s tour of the United States.<\/p>\n
United<\/a> brought a successful tour to a close with a 2-2 draw against Everton in Atlanta on Sunday night, ensuring they won the Premier League Summer Series.<\/p>\n United’s tour of the US consisted of three games, two wins, one draw and eight goals. Their performances in the wins over West Ham United and Bournemouth were particularly impressive.<\/p>\n With just one friendly to go – a clash with Fiorentina at Old Trafford<\/a> on Saturday lunchtime – head coach Ruben Amorim will potentially use his side’s final warm up match to get a good look at the starting XI he plans to unleash for the season opener against Arsenal in just under a fortnight’s time.<\/p>\n Over the course of United’s opening four pre-season friendlies, the first of which was a goalless draw against Leeds United in Stockholm last month, Amorim made 18 changes to his starting XI, ensuring he got the opportunity to get as close a look as possible at the members of his squad.<\/p>\n However, Amorim<\/a> has not tested the water with many midfield combinations this summer, starting just two different central-midfield partnerships. Bruno Fernandes<\/a> and Casemiro started side by side against Leeds and Bournemouth, while Kobbie Mainoo<\/a> and Manuel Ugarte got the nod against West Ham and Everton.<\/p>\n Against the Hammers, Mainoo and Ugarte were excellent, producing performances that would not have looked out of place in a competitive fixture. United set an excellent tempo and the pair of them were drivers of it.<\/p>\n Against Everton, though, United were sloppy in the engine room. They struggled against the Toffees’ physicality levels and Ugarte was guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply for Iliman Ndiaye’s first half equaliser.<\/p>\n Concerns about Ugarte’s<\/a> ability on the ball have regularly been expressed in recent months amid United’s desire to sign a new midfielder this summer. As solid as he is defensively, his ability on the ball holds him back.<\/p>\n Mainoo, whose long-term position under Amorim remains undecided, has looked at home as a No.8 for the majority of pre-season, playing forward-thinking passes and offering United a degree of energy.<\/p>\n However, the additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha<\/a> mean they are leading candidates to start the season as the two No.10s, meaning Fernandes, despite starting two games as one of the playmakers, is expected to make a permanent switch to midfield.<\/p>\n If that expectation transpires, it is currently a wide open race to partner him in the engine room. Casemiro has been his midfield partner in the two games he has started deeper this summer, but the Brazilian is not guaranteed to remain a regular starter once the competitive action kicks off.<\/p>\n Many United supporters believe Mainoo should, one way or another, be in Amorim’s first-choice starting XI, ensuring the Portuguese head coach finds a way to make full use of his talent. However, the fact he and Fernandes have not played alongside each other in midfield at any point so far this pre-season suggests Amorim is not thinking about unleashing them as a midfield duo.<\/p>\n Amid the debate that is going on about who will form United’s strongest midfield partnership this season, concerns have understandably been raised about how little bite and defensive nous a duo of Mainoo and Fernandes would have.<\/p>\n Both players are renowned for being forward-thinking, and Fernandes will be expected to take up attacking positions, leaving Mainoo potentially exposed.<\/p>\n United need to source a new midfielder ahead of the transfer window closing on September 1, and they are expected to do so amid the likelihood of Toby Collyer being allowed to leave on loan.<\/p>\n In an ideal world, United need a midfielder who is aggressive, good on the ball and defensively sound. However, ticking all of those boxes will come at a price.<\/p>\n But having refused to unleash Fernandes and Mainoo as a paring so far this pre-season, it feels somewhat unlikely Amorim will turn to them come the start of the competitive action.<\/p>\n The countdown is on to the 2025\/26 Premier League campaign – and our pre-season guide<\/a> is the ideal way to prepare for the action ahead.<\/p>\n As well as in-depth analysis and opinion on your club, we turn the spotlight on every team battling for top-flight glory – or simply survival in the toughest league in the world!<\/p>\n Also full fixtures guide so you don’t miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season.<\/p>\n![\"Manuel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2228396820.jpg\")
Manchester United have seen the best and worst of Manuel Ugarte this summer.(Image: Andrew J. Clark\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images.)<\/p>\n![\"Bruno](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2228396877.jpg\")
Bruno Fernandes is a versatile option for Manchester United.(Image: Andrew J. Clark\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images.)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754407753_378_0_manchester-united-pre-season-guide-2025-26-4863-1-p.jpg\")
KICK OFF – Man United pre-season guide 2025\/26<\/p>\n