Manchester United vs Fiorentina live: Team news, line-ups and more from pre-season friendly – UK Times

As Sir Alex Ferguson unveiled the plaque at the redeveloped training ground to the long-serving receptionist, Kath Phipps, celebrating “the welcoming heart of Manchester United for 56 years”, the club’s greatest manager recalled how she would sort the letters on his messy desk. One pile of them, Ferguson chuckled, consisted of abusive ones.

Ferguson was in charge when United opened Carrington. “It was state of the art, back in 2000,” said chief operating officer Collette Roche. United believe it is again now, after a £50m revamp, paid for by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, opened this week.

Former Manchester United keeper David de Gea returns to his old haunt, but striker Christian Kouame will not feature for the visitors due to a cruciate ligament injury.

New signings Bryan Mbuemo and Matheus Cunha played together for the first time – the former making his maiden United appearance – in Atlanta, although the game has come too soon for the Red Devils’ newest arrival, Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko.

The match will be shown on MUTV, available via Manchester United’s website and app.

Annual subscriptions cost £29.99.

The match will take place on Saturday 9 August at Old Trafford, with kickoff at 12.45pm BST.

Manchester United return to Old Trafford after a mixed summer of fixtures for their final pre-season friendly, and a chance for the home faithful to see a slew of new signings in action.

“It was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here, more quality to get everyone to step up a little more to get to the XI, and I think that is what the club are trying to do,” the captain said.

Fernandes – and Amorim – will be hoping United put on a better showing at Old Trafford today, with a tricky opener to their Premier League campaign on the horizon against last season’s runners-up Arsenal.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s pre-season friendly between Manchester United and Fiorentina.

It is Ruben Amorim’s final fixture before the start of the Premier League season and he will be hoping to sign off in style with a victory at Old Trafford.

The watching fans will get a look at new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha while there may even be an update on Benjamin Sesko who underwent a medical with the club on Friday.

Stick around for all the build-up and team news.