Manchester United’s players have returned from the USA after a successful tour, with Ruben Amorim’s side unbeaten in pre-season.
With two wins and two draws, Manchester United’s pre-season has been productive, with eight goals scored in four games and only three conceded.
United lifted the Premier League Summer Series trophy and head back for the final pre-season game at Old Trafford against Fiorentina on August 9.
The togetherness of the squad has been evident in the performances, with new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo giving everybody a lift.
Now with the US tour complete, let’s take a look at the winners and losers to emerge, as preparations for the season ramp up…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim looks on from the bench.
Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Winners
Ruben Amorim: Let’s start with Manchester United’s head coach, who promised an improved 2025/26 season in his closing speech at Old Trafford back in May.
Amorim has begun to finally make his imprint on the team this pre-season, with time to focus on tactics, structure, and the presence of his two major new signings plus youngster Diego Leon.
Last season, manager Erik ten Hag endured a disaster when new signing Leny Yoro suffered an injury that kept him out for months, and Rasmus Hojlund also injured. And the previous season, Kobbie Mainoo was injured against Real Madrid, delaying his impact on the team.
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Amorim has been fortunate to avoid a similar unwanted scenario, and this good fortune has contributed to the positive vibes around the team, also helped by the omission of the unwanted stars the club are attempting to sell.
Patrick Dorgu: After signing during the January transfer window, Patrick Dorgu was a solid addition, but United fans are yet to see the very best of him. Pre-season suggests this is about to change.
Dorgu is playing with more confidence, more purpose, and with greater connection with his teammates. He also got on the scoresheet for the first time against Bournemouth, and there was a clear drop-off when he did not start against Everton.
Amid the exciting additions to the frontline this summer, Dorgu could turn out to be one of United’s key players in the 2025/26 season, making the left-wing back spot his own.
Luke Shaw at end of game with bib around his shoulders
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Luke Shaw: Patrick Dorgu’s star status at left wing-back does not necessarily spell doom for Luke Shaw. Instead, the England international is re-inventing himself at centre-back.
Shaw has proven under previous managers how well suited he is to a back-three system, and this appears to be where Ruben Amorim sees him making an impact.
He has managed to play in all four of Manchester United’s games, starting three, accumulating 197 minutes of playing time.
In doing so, Shaw has been building up his fitness and has to date avoided repeats of injuries suffered during pre-season. It would not be a surprise to see him start the Premier League opener.
Amad: Two new ‘number 10s’ have signed at Manchester United, and that is no problem at all for last season’s standout player, Amad.
Amad has simply shifted to play at right wing-back, a position where he occasionally featured last season, and he looks well suited to it.
The role gives him extra opportunity to carry the ball and hit teams on the counter, and he is carrying himself like a player who knows he belongs in the team.
He managed to score in the win over Bournemouth, and won a penalty against Everton, and once again it looks like he will be key to United’s success, with even more dangerous players around him.
Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United’s captain scored three of the team’s eight goals, and has showcased his versatility in the process.
Ruben Amorim has used him both as a number 10 and as a deeper lying midfielder, and entering the new season, he looks undroppable, no matter which role he is utilised in.
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring for Manchester United.
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Rasmus Hojlund: Rasmus Hojlund is not guaranteed to be a Manchester United player when the transfer window closes. But he has got a real chance.
Hojlund was not included in United’s ‘bomb squad’ of players the club are desperate to sell, despite the need to raise funds, and he has showed he might still have something to offer.
The 22-year-old opened the scoring in United’s win over Bournemouth, and is determined to stay at the club. If he does remain, his performances on tour have given him a chance, a big improvement from his displays at the end of last season.
If he is sold, his pre-season displays could make him more attractive to potential buyers.
Mason Mount of Manchester United gives a double high five to Amad after scoring a goal
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Mason Mount: A player who is in the last chance saloon, Mason Mount faces fresh competition for his place for new arrivals Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Mount has shown he is up for the challenge. He has come through the tour injury-free and looked bright when he has played. His goal against Everton was excellent and showed the confidence he has.
The £55 million star has not lived up to the billing since his arrival in 2023, largely due to injuries. This season could be the year his fortunes change. His displays in the USA on tour suggest he has a chance.
Ethan Williams: Among the eight youngsters who went on tour, Ethan Williams was the breakout player, maximising his 19 minutes of action.
Williams scored an excellent goal in United’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth, just a minute after coming off the bench, after link-up with Diego Leon.
It’s unclear whether Williams will stick around this season or go out on loan, but either way, he leaves the US with his reputation enhanced.
Losers
Diogo Dalot: For the first time since the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era, Diogo Dalot has been reduced to a back-up option.
It has become clear Amad is the preferred option at the right wing-back position, with Patrick Dorgu the standout at left-back.
Noussair Mazraoui can feature in the back-three just like Luke Shaw, while Dalot is more of a specialist full-back. He will play plenty of games this season, but he is no longer first choice.
Chido Obi in Manchester United kit during pre-season game
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Chido Obi: It has been a frustrating tour for Chido Obi, who starred on the postseason tour and started the pre-season game in Stockholm against Leeds.
In the USA, Obi was used as a back-up and played a total of 43 minutes across three games. He was an unused substitute against Bournemouth.
Still only 17-years-old, there is plenty of time for the young wonderkid to make an impact, but if a new striker comes in and Rasmus Hojlund sticks around, opportunities will be limited and a loan move might be necessary.
Manuel Ugarte plays a pass vs Everton
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Manuel Ugarte: Midfield has become more of a concern for Manchester United fans than striker, with Manuel Ugarte glaringly bad in the draw with Everton.
Ugarte is becoming defined as more of a squad player than an automatic starter, and his chances of starting on the opening day against Arsenal took a real hit with his performance in Atlanta.
Ruben Amorim pinpointed Ugarte’s error against Everton and discussed the problem it caused, and he leaves the tour with major question marks, and United fans hoping for reinforcements at the position.
Kobbie Mainoo: Kobbie Mainoo played well when called upon, but this tour reinforced concerns over his role in the current team and a lack of opportunities.
Mainoo is essentially Manchester United’s back-up to Bruno Fernandes. When Fernandes plays forward, Mainoo has a chance to start as one of the two central midfielders.
But when Fernandes is one of the midfield two, he needs a more defensively-focused player alongside him than Mainoo.
The challenge ahead is for Mainoo to prove he can develop as a holding player, or simply be patient this season and take the minutes he can get. United’s best performance against Bournemouth came in a game where he played only 19 minutes.
Joshua Zirkzee: For the second successive summer, Joshua Zirkzee has failed to play a single minute on the club’s pre-season tour.
This time around Zirkzee was sidelined with a minor injury, and while he travelled and spent time around his teammates, it was frustrating for him not to get onto the pitch at all.
Zirkzee has a role to play this season, but there are questions where he will play, and he could have grabbed a headstart and begun building chemistry with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Now he faces a battle to make the bench for the opening day.