Leeds United will soon kick-off the 2025/26 campaign with a pre-season friendly against Manchester United.
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 season.
Leeds vs Man United will take place in Stockholm, as the Strawberry Arena will be host to the clash.
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.
However, before the game takes place, Man United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has made a strange decision against Leeds.
Man United's Bruno Fernandes challenges Leeds United star Junior Firpo.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Jim Ratcliffe’s unexpected decision for Man United vs Leeds United
Despite it being a friendly, there will be nothing friendly about the game when Daniel Farke meets Ruben Amorim for the first time.
Of course, they will meet again in the Premier League, but some early bragging rights can take place.
🗞️ LEEDS UNITED FACE MAN UNITED IN SWEDEN
Leeds United announce pre-season friendly v Manchester United in Stockholm.
The fixture will be played at Sweden's national stadium the Strawberry Arena.
🗓️ Saturday July 19th
🕒 KO: 3pm (local time)#LUFC | #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/G9nHdIc7L9
— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) March 19, 2025
View Tweet
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
With anticipation building, Leeds’ predicted XI for Man United will surely include the new arrivals of Gabriel Gudmundsson and potentially transfer target Sean Longstaff.
Of course, his signing has been thrown into doubt with another bid rejected, but the 49ers could continue their pursuit.
Away from the transfer side of things, a decision has been made by Ratcliffe that is certainly unusual for the Red Devils.
talkSPORT has revealed that due to Man United’s continuous cost-cutting, Leeds will fall as the first victim to Ratcliffe abandoning ‘traditional gift-giving’ as part of their pre-season plans.
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.
But starting with the friendly in Stockholm against Leeds, this gift-giving won’t take place as Man United plan to instead put some budget towards hosting Leeds’ executives, starting with a planned drinks reception in Stockholm.
The outlet reports there is a feeling that pre-season gifts to familiar foes are ‘needless’ and even ‘old-fashioned’, with the Whites potentially raising an eyebrow to the change.
READ MORE: Leeds United desperately trying to avoid PSR implication as player exit becomes complicated
Ratcliffe decision could add more rivalry to Man United vs Leeds
It’s certainly not a surprise that Ratcliffe had to make this decision, as his regime in Manchester seems to be all about saving money.
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’s team.
The Whites will be hoping they can get one over their rivals, whom they haven’t beaten since Jermaine Beckford’s famous winning goal in the FA Cup in 2010, which silenced Old Trafford.
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’s fighting spirit.
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.
Man United is always a key fixture for Leeds, and Ratcliffe might have made the 25/26 opener just that little bit more tastier.