Manchester United are exploring the viability of a behind-closed-doors friendly against a local rival this week, according to The Times.
The Red Devils kick off the 2025-26 campaign officially next Sunday when they host Arsenal at Old Trafford in their first game of the new Premier League season.
Man United played their last game of pre-season yesterday, drawing 1-1 against Fiorentina, and head coach Ruben Amorim wants to give Andre Onana, and latest signing Benjamin Sesko, some “real world” training before they host the Gunners.
The Cameroon international goalkeeper has been sidelined by a hamstring injury since the beginning of pre-season and last played a game in May – the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Onana has returned to Man United first-team training and could be declared fit against Arsenal, but Amorim now has to decide whether to take a risk on his fitness or go with Altay Bayindir in goal on Sunday.
The behind-closed-doors friendly will come in handy for the Red Devils first-choice goalie and Sesko.
However, it might not be enough to hand Onana much-needed match fitness given his lack of competitive action over the past three months.
Sesko also has not played a competitive game since his appearance in the last Bundesliga match of last season back in May, but he did feature against German fourth-tier club ZFC Meuselwitz on July 19.
He could do with some minutes in the tank ahead of next weekend and having him fully fit and ready to hit the ground against the North London club would be huge.
His fellow summer signings – Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – are raring to go for the new campaign having played with their new teammates in pre-season, and Amorim cannot wait to unleash his new attack.
Man United will be desperate to start 2025-26 on a winning note, and picking up all three points at the expense of Arsenal will be a perfect way to begin the new campaign.