Manchester United Detailed Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Manchester United Finish Last Season?

Manchester United's first starting XI of pre-season. 👀 pic.twitter.com/wEd8FTd3pW

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 19, 2025

In what can only be described as a disastrous 2024/25 campaign, Manchester United, Premier League juggernauts in a long gone era, finished 15th in the league, failed to get past the quarter final stage of either domestic cup, and most disappointing of all, wasted an opportunity to redeem their season with silverware, as they lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, a club whose struggles matched, and perhaps even exceed the Red Devils’.

Along the way, they set a host of new club records, which included but were not limited to fewest Premier League points (42), fewest league goals scored (44) and most league defeats in a season (18), putting the infamous David Moyes era to shame. Ruben Amorim, appointed mid-season in place of Erik ten Haag, and under the illusion he was landing his dream job, was effectively given command of a sinking ship for the duration of last season - whatever he tried, the players simply wouldn’t or couldn’t respond to, and with each passing gameweek, Old Trafford became a steadily more toxic environment.

In fairness, Amorim had not yet had a transfer window to bring in players that suit his play-style - 2025/26 will be, and must be different. With players more capable of playing his go-to three at the back system, the Portuguese coach with hope to coach some fluidity into what was a stagnant United side last season. But it all depends on how much time he is given to turn things around - the owner's patience will be starting to wane.

Best Result: Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Rashford 34’, 46’, Zirkzee 41’, 64’)

Worst Result: Newcastle United 4-1 Manchester United (Tonali 24’, Barnes 49’, 64’, Guimaraes 77’; Garnacho 37’)

Who Have Manchester United Signed in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig - £66.3 Million + £7.3 Million Add Ons

Manchester United have agreed a deal of up to $99m to sign Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig, per multiple reports 🇸🇮 pic.twitter.com/XEhrIoMvAK

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 7, 2025

Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford - £65 Million + £5 Million Add Ons

Matheus Cunha from Wolves - £62.5 Million

Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp - £18.2 Million

Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno - £3.5 Million + £3.5 Million Add Ons

Total Spent: £215.5 Million + £15.8 Million in Potential Add Ons

Who Have Manchester United Sold in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea - £40 Million

Antony to Real Betis - £19 Million + £2.6 Million Add Ons

Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli - £5.1 Million Season long loan with Option to Buy

Marcus Rashford to Barcelona - Season long loan with Option to Buy

Jadon Sancho to Aston Villa - Season long loan

Harry Amass to Sheffield Wednesday - Season long loan

Toby Collyer to West Bromwich Albion - Season long loan

Ethan Ennis to Fleetwood Town - Season long loan

Tyrell Malacia to Elche - Season long loan

Sonny Aljofree to Notts County - Season long loan

Jack Moorhouse to Leyton Orient - Season long loan

Ethan Wheatley to Northampton Town - Season long loan

Radek Vitek to Bristol City - Season long loan

Dan Gore to Rotherham - Season long loan

Elyh Harrison to Shrewsbury Town - Season long loan

Joe Hugill to Barnet - Season long loan

Victor Lindelof - Released

Christian Eriksen - Released

Jonny Evans - Retired

Total Received: £64.1 Million + £2.6 Million in Potential Add Ons

Manchester United 2025/26 Squad List

Goalkeepers: Andre Onana, Senne Lammens, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton.

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, Diego Leon, Ayden Heaven.

Midfielders: Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer.

Attackers: Amad Diallo, Benjamin Sesko, Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Bryan Mbeumo, Chido Obi-Martin.

Manchester United 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

🚨 | OFFICIAL: Manchester United 2025/26 home kit is here. #Sportcoin #MUFC pic.twitter.com/LoSKqwd12b

— United Xtra (@ManUnitedXtra_) June 12, 2025

Manchester United's 2025/26 away kit ✨ pic.twitter.com/sWgdM7km9e

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 16, 2025

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Manchester United release their 3rd kit for the new season! 👕✨ pic.twitter.com/bQ6EamBUF4

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 12, 2025

What is Manchester United’s First Premier League Fixture?

Manchester United vs Arsenal | Old Trafford, Manchester | Sunday, August 17th, 16:30

How Can I Watch Manchester United vs Arsenal?

Manchester United’s opening game of the season will be broadcasted on Sky Sports, and although it is unclear which channel the company intend to use, it will likely be on either Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League.

What Are Manchester United’s Opening Five Games?

Manchester United vs Arsenal - Sunday, August 17th.

Fulham vs Manchester United - Sunday, August 24th.

Manchester United vs Burnley - Saturday, August 30th.

Manchester City vs Manchester United - Sunday, September 14th.

Manchester United vs Chelsea - Saturday, September 20th.

When Do Manchester United Play Rivals Manchester City in 2025/26?

One of the most famous derbies in the game of football, the battle between the red and blue sides of Manchester always delivers. With a history of great matches, greater players and the greatest drama, you don’t want to miss either installment of the Manchester Derby this season.

Manchester City vs Manchester United - Sunday, September 14th.

Manchester United vs Manchester City - TBC.

Last Five Meetings:

• 06/04/2025: Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City.
• 15/12/2024: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United.
• 10/08/2024: Manchester City p1-1 Manchester United.
• 25/05/2024: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United.
• 03/03/2024: Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United.

Who is Manchester United’s Manager for 2025/26?

🚨Ruben Amorim: "We have a lack of pace, especially in the middle of the park, you can feel it." pic.twitter.com/CNRgekmjvL

— (fan) 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗺’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇵🇹 (@AmorimBalll_) July 19, 2025

Despite having the worst start of any Manchester United manager in living memory, there is no doubt that Ruben Amorim is a talented manager - United's dramatic late comeback win over Manchester City in December showed that the highly rated Portuguese coach had something about him.

Unfortunately, high value results like this were too few and far between. Yes, Amorim guided them all the way to the Europa League final, but his side's performance in the tournament’s showpiece game was akin to a team eliminated in the group stage, and showed just how far the Red Devils have to go if they are to compete at the very top of the game again. Winning one of their last nine league games saw morale plummet to an all time low, and heading into the Europa League final, belief was never high that they would be lifting silverware at full time - they had just been too inconsistent, too inefficient and too low on quality to deserve anything other than a runners-up medal.

Signing two of the league's best players last season in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Amorim’s attempts to bolster United’s attack are promising - but going off what we have seen over the past two or three seasons, it seems an entire team rebuild is required to earn them relevance again. Don’t be surprised if Amorim dips into the market all the way up to deadline day.

Who is Manchester United’s Player to Watch?

Bruno Fernandes

The only debatably world-class player in the United ranks, Bruno Fernandes consistently defies United’s poor performance season after season - in fact, there is an argument to be made that the worse United are doing, the better the Portuguese maestro is playing.

Bruno Fernandes has lit up the Premier League over the last five years... could he be headed for Saudi Arabia? 🔢 pic.twitter.com/MgXFttdQQX

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 30, 2025

United’s lock-picker, Fernandes typically sits just behind the front line, hoovering up loose balls and pinging them elsewhere, usually either to a team mate or into the top corner. In Amorim’s back three system, he has been forced to drop a little deeper into central midfield, occupy the playmaking role while either Casemiro, Eriksen or Mainoo sit a little deeper, but this alteration hasn’t yet hurt his output - in 2024/25, Fernandes netted 19 times and assisted a further 18 across all competitions, his most productive campaign since 2020/21. Outsourcing both United strikers in Zirkzee and Hojlund, Fernandes gave them a valuable lesson in how to finish, something they will hope to carry over to the new campaign.

Very few at Old Trafford are untouchable - Fernandes, however, is guaranteed to fall under this bracket. They simply cannot afford to lose their star player - should he make a shock move elsewhere, very few United fans will be looking forward to the new season.

Manchester United 2025/26 Season Prediction

After the sickening, derailed rollercoaster that sums up their 2024/25 season perfectly, Manchester United are one of two Premier League sides this season that fans simply cannot make predictions for, along with Europa League conquerors Tottenham. So much happened under Ruben Amorim’s guidance, from falling out with players to dramatic derby victories, and continental finals to calls for the sack.

One thing is for sure - Amorim is an excellent manager, and has dealt with the tsunami of criticism aimed at him and his players well, at least in the press. However, it is now important that they respond to it on the pitch. Completely revamping their frontline with the arrivals of Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, and with rebels Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford departing from Old Trafford, it is clear that Amorim is preparing for a sustained European push this season.

The squad overhaul, investing heavily in talented new blood and in-form players, is certainly promising - however, as with any big money signing, embedding them into the squad takes time. So with three of them, costing in excess of £205 Million, it is anyone’s guess as to how long it will be before the Red Devils start to look like themselves again. Nothing can be as bad as last season, but this season will still see them struggle at times.

Football Park’s Prediction: 7th