Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina: Sesko unveiled, De Gea returns, and was this Amorim’s starting XI for Arsenal?

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After five matches in three countries across 22 days, featuring three new first-team signings, Manchester United’s pre-season is now complete. 

Ruben Amorim’s men concluded a positive rehearsal for the 2025-26 campaign with a 1-1 draw and 5-4 penalty shootout victory against Fiorentina at Old Trafford. Much has changed for the club – on and off the pitch – since Amorim said “the good days are coming” in late May.

In front of 65,103 fans, United played with confidence, but perhaps not the quality to suggest they will be favourites for a top five finish this season. Fans were afforded a first glimpse of new signing Benjamin Sesko, got to say a proper goodbye to returning hero David de Gea, and more. 

Carl Anka breaks down a noteworthy day in the Manchester sun. 

(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Did Amorim reveal his starting XI for Arsenal?

Ask 10 United fans for their best starting XI and expect to receive half a dozen answers. Amorim’s squad boasts many players of varying strengths, all vying for a fixed amount of opportunities. With only Andre Onana and Joshua Zirkzee as notable injury-enforced absences from the matchday squad, this fixture presented an interesting look at how the head coach is preparing for next Sunday’s challenge against Arsenal. 

United lined up against Fiorentina like this:

The second half brought myriad substitutions: Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo and Matthijs de Ligt were introduced in the 72nd minute for Ayden Heaven, Bryan Mbeumo, Casemiro and Harry Maguire. That saw Dalot move to right wing-back and Amad push on to the No 10. The 83rd minute saw Manuel Ugarte brought on for Mason Mount, leading to Fernandes taking over as the left 10.

It was a performance that offered a dozen questions but only a handful of answers. The Italian side went ahead in the eighth minute after Simon Sohm capitalised on defensive errors on a corner to finish with a first time effort. United equalised in the 25th minute with a corner of their own, and looked most threatening on attacking set pieces.

Amorim did not stop for a post match press-conference on Saturday, but one imagines he’ll make two to three changes to his XI next week. It remains to be seen who will get the nod at centre-forward. Mason Mount’s role as a false nine brought his trademark pressing (he nearly pinched the ball from De Gea’s feet in the 17th minute), but limited penalty box threat. This fixture was the third pre-season game to see Rasmus Hojlund on the bench, with the 22-year-old’s immediate future cast into doubt following the signing of Sesko. 

(Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Amorim toyed with his midfield options once again. The coach has largely alternated between two pairings: Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro are the experienced duo for ball progression and set-piece threat, while Manuel Ugarte & Mainoo offer youth and energy. Mainoo, alongside Fernandes for 10 minutes (give or take) made for an interesting wrinkle. The two have the technical quality to break down defences, but recovery pace and tackling may be an issue. 

United have made three noteworthy first-team signings this summer, but Amorim only has a week to find solutions for conundrums at goalkeeper, defensive midfield and centre-forward.

How does Sesko fit into all of this?

Sesko was announced as United’s new centre-forward at 10.30 am on the club website, with fans able to buy scarves bearing his face an hour later outside Old Trafford.

Saturday’s pre-match saw the 22-year-old officially unveiled, wearing a black tracksuit, saying hello to Fred the Red, waving to all fans assembled, but not yet revealing his future shirt number. He serves as the club’s bombshell summer signing, a deal worth at least €76.5million (£66.4m; $89.1m) and a sign that the club remains a premier destination for players, regardless of their disappointing 2024-25 season. 

🤳 @Snapdragon selfie: Old Trafford edition 🏟️#ShotOnSnapdragon pic.twitter.com/2BSbDUw1MK

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 9, 2025

Sesko is a 6ft 5in (195cm) boulder being thrown into Amorim’s lake. The coming weeks will give us time to properly measure his many tactical ripples. He is a potent and powerful attacking option; a striker who thrives when running into open space and boasts a cannon of a right foot. Mount led the line against Fiorentina – followed by Cunha after second half changes.

It remains to be seen whether Amorim will start his new striker against Arsenal next week. Sesko should — in theory — be afforded time to adjust and get acquainted with life in Manchester, but Hojlund’s uncertain future may lead to him being thrown into the deep end. An alternative option would be to play Mount again at false nine, or give the centre-forward role to someone else. Cunha has played more pre-season minutes in a United shirt than Hojlund, Mbeumo and Chido Obi, but the Brazilian is not a natural No 9.

(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)

Sesko has a physical presence and pace that will make him a handful for Premier League defenders, and should be a fixture in the starting line-up after the close of the summer window. Amorim’s twin 10s of Cunha and Mbeumo are likely to enjoy playing alongside the new forward, given Sesko’s fondness for playing on the last line of a team’s defence. His playing style and career pathway have seen more than one commentator compare Sesko to Erling Haaland, but the striker has greater possible similarity to another striker present at Old Trafford on Saturday: Fiorentina’s Edin Dzeko. 

Sesko represents a major roll of the dice from United’s recruitment team. Amorim may make a further bet on his new striker next week. 

De Gea returns to Old Trafford

A hamstring issue has prevented Onana from participating in United’s pre-season matches, but it is hoped the 29-year-old will pass the necessary fitness tests to make the start of the Premier League season. It fell to Altay Bayındir to take his place. He performed satisfactorily, but remains unconvincing as a long-term No 1 option. 

But Onana’s injury was not the biggest goalkeeping story at Old Trafford on Saturday. That belonged to the returning De Gea, who was afforded a standing ovation and a gift from Fernandes before kick-off. The 34-year-old played in a familiar fashion on Saturday; a capable shot stopper who forwards have to work hard to beat in one-v-ones. De Gea found himself targeted by Amorim’s men on United set pieces, the goalkeeper furious that Mount interfered with his movement when defending a corner in the 25th minute. Fernandes’ set piece was directed towards the back post for Leny Yoro and Casemiro, with the ball eventually connecting with Robin Gosens for an own goal.

(Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Moments later, a well-worked short corner routine between Mbeumo and Amad saw the former whip in a cross for Yoro, who provided a good header that was matched by a better save. 

De Gea is not a sweeper keeper, nor does he look to break the lines with his passing. He is a goalkeeper who makes saves, and he did so time and again at Old Trafford on Saturday. Much as he did for 12 years in United colours.

Many United supporters believe the club would be a more positive place had Erik ten Hag elected to keep De Gea instead of pushing for a move for Onana. This game served as a reminder of De Gea’s qualities and why the club may still require a further goalkeeper purchase soon. 

What did Amorim say?

The United boss was pleased with the way his side were tested on Saturday. “I think we had some difficulties especially in the beginning of the first half and the beginning of the second half. They have a lot of mobility and we struggled to find the right moment to press and then we controlled the game.

“We had a lack of fluidity in the game. We can do better. I think it was a perfect game of preparation to show us that we need to improve in different areas, that we are going to struggle in some moments but sometimes we have players that make a play to elevate the stakes.”

Mason Mount’s work rate was praised by Amorim, who also saw plenty of promise in how Cunha and Mbeumo linked up. “It (Mount’s energy) is unbelievable, the way he works and moving all the time from position, he goes all positions but also the other guys, it was a good test to prepare the first game.”

“I think they (Cunha and Mbeumo) are maybe 50, 60 per cent of what they can do, I think like any other team we going to improve during the season, we are going to be so much better. There are some moments I think we need because of the one against one in all the pitch, we struggle without a reference as a striker. We have a new player so we will see.”

(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

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