Manchester United will round off their preparations for the 2025-26 Premier League season with a friendly against Fiorentina on Saturday afternoon, and there is silverware on offer for the two clubs.
Indeed, fresh from lifting the 2025 Premier League Summer Series trophy in the United States, Man United will be aiming to become the champions of the Snapdragon Cup.
Match preview
There is no getting away from the fact that the 2024-25 season was utterly disastrous for Man United, but it would be fair to say that there is a different feeling around the club ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The players look fitter and more together this summer, and it has been a successful pre-season for the Red Devils, winning two and drawing two of their four matches, including two victories and a stalemate at the 2025 Premier League Summer Series, which saw them lift the trophy before heading back to the United Kingdom.
Man United beat West Ham United and Bournemouth in the US before drawing 2-2 with Everton last time out, and they will now play once more against Fiorentina before beginning their 2025-26 Premier League campaign with a home fixture against Arsenal on August 17.
Ruben Amorim's side have made two standout signings so far this summer, bringing in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but the club are not finished, with a deal for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko seemingly imminent, while they are also eyeing Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba.
There will also be some high-profile exits before the end of the transfer window, and it is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for Man United, who can focus on domestic matters in the coming season due to their absence from European competitions during the 2025-26 campaign.
Fiorentina's Moise Kean celebrates scoring on February 6, 2025
Fiorentina, meanwhile, are working towards their 2025-26 Serie A opener, which comes against Cagliari on August 24, and the Italian giants have also had a solid pre-season to date.
Indeed, Stefano Pioli's side beat Grosseto and Carrarese in their opening two friendlies of the summer, scoring five times and conceding zero, before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Leicester City last weekend.
Fiorentina were also in action on Tuesday, drawing 0-0 against Nottingham Forest, and this will also be their final pre-season match despite the fact that their season does not start until August 24.
The Purples finished sixth in Italy's top flight last season, which represented their best campaign since claiming fifth in 2015-16, so the club are in a good place at this moment in time.
Fiorentina have also been incredibly active in the transfer market, with deals for the likes of Simon Sohm, Nicolo Fagioli and Edin Dzeko being completed, while Nico Gonzalez and Michael Kayode have been among their departures so far this summer.
Man United pre-season form:
D W W D
Fiorentina pre-season form:
W W L D
Team News
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana on March 16, 2025
Man United could welcome Andre Onana, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui back into their squad after the trio missed out in the United States due to injury problems, but Lisandro Martinez has only just returned to light training, as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
Mbeumo made his debut against Everton as a starter and is again set to be in the XI here, with Amorim expected to name a side close to the one that could feature against Arsenal.
Cunha could again be asked to lead the line, with Rasmus Hojlund unlikely to start amid the speculation surrounding his future, while Bruno Fernandes is likely to feature in an advanced area.
Mason Mount and Harry Maguire are pushing to be introduced into the XI, but Luke Shaw could retain his spot in the back three for the 20-time English champions.
As for Fiorentina, there will be an Old Trafford return for the club's legendary goalkeeper David de Gea, who played for Man United between 2011 and 2023.
De Gea will be given a warm reception from the Man United fans, with the Spaniard undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the club's history.
Head coach Pioli is expected to make full use of his squad this weekend, and there are set to be appearances for new signings Sohm, Fagioili and Albert Gudmundsson, while Moise Kean is in line to continue in the final third of the field.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Bayindir; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Mainoo, Ugarte, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha, Fernandes
Fiorentina possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Dodo, Ranieri, Viti, Fortini; Fagioli, Sohm, Barak; Brekalo, Kean, Gudmundsson
SM words green background
We say: Manchester United 2-1 Fiorentina
Fiorentina are a classy outfit and are sure to provide tough opposition for Man United on Saturday, but the Red Devils have been in strong form during pre-season, and we are expecting the Premier League giants to emerge victorious in front of their own supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
ID:578794:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7473:
No Data Analysis info
Previews by email
Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!