MANCHESTER UNITED are lining up friendlies in five different European cities during their pre-season tour.
SunSport previously revealed United were in discussions to play games in Gothenburg and Helsinki.
United are also in talks to have friendlies in Warsaw, Oslo and Dublin for a more unconventional pre-season schedule.
Club sources confirmed that United have settled on the concept of individual European games.
After touring the United States three years running, United are staying closer to home with the World Cup taking place across the Atlantic this summer.
The World Cup final takes place on July 19 and the opening day of the Premier League season is later than usual on August 22.
United’s mooted trip to Polish capital Warsaw would bring back memories of their European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals with Legia Warsaw in 1991 for some supporters.
United’s Champions League-winning campaign in 1998-99 began against Polish side LKS Lodz and United returned to Poland for the 2021 Europa League final in Gdansk.
Norwegian capital Oslo has hosted United four times since 2019 and they played in Dublin in 2017 and 2023.
United last played in the Finnish capital of Helsinki against Hjk Helsinki in the European Cup in 1965. They took on Barcelona and Galatasaray in Gothenburg games in 2012 and 2016.
LANG LOST FRIENDS
Bruno Fernandes had a lengthy catch up with Anthony Elanga backstage at St James’ Park on Wednesday.
Elanga, 23, was sitting shirtless in a corridor, checking his phone while the managers’ press conferences were taking place a few doors down.
One of the quickest out of the changing room, Fernandes stopped to chat with Elanga and the pair were locked in conversation for over ten minutes.
They were soon joined by United full-back Tyrell Malacia, who had a moment to forget when conceding Will Osula’s 90th minute winner.
Carrington academy product Elanga was a handful for Luke Shaw, and later Noussair Mazraoui, before being subbed off in the 85th minute.
Elanga was popular at United, which adds up given that people from his school described him as a humble and kind person.
After his development stalled under Erik ten Hag, Elanga joined Nottingham Forest in 2023 before sealing a £55m move to Newcastle last summer, when United benefited from a sell-on clause.
THANK BRUNO
Eddie Howe’s right-hand man Jason Tindall asked Fernandes to sign a United shirt near the mixed zone after the Toon snatched a 2-1 win.
Fernandes, who notched his 14th assist of the season on the night, happily obliged and penned his autograph across the No8 on the back of the jersey.
It is unclear whether it was the United captain’s actual match-worn shirt from the game or a spare.
Tindall, nicknamed Mad Dog, was involved in huge celebrations on the pitch on Wednesday night as Osula’s screamer ended Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run.
The much-loved Toon coach was also spotted speaking to Shaw while Fernandes and Joelinton had words in the tunnel at half-time.
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CARR-IAGE TO ST JAMES’
United spent Tuesday evening in Newcastle, despite kick-off being 24 hours later at St James’ Park.
Two seasons ago, United decided to fly up to the North East on the day of the game, only for their flight to be cancelled, leaving them to take the coach.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who visited United’s Carrington training complex earlier on Wednesday, boarded his private jet for the journey up to Newcastle.
JEEPERS KEEPERS
United are now also travelling to games with an extra player. Since Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff left, United have had one goalkeeping coach in Craig Mawson.
Rather than hire an extra ‘keeping coach, 23-year-old Dermot Mee has participated in warm-ups.
Mee’s only career appearances were for non-league Altrincham in 2022. He played four times and conceded 11 goals.
Third-choice goalie Tom Heaton has always participated in warm-ups but United now have four professional custodians involved in their matchday preparations.
SESKO EXPRESS
Benjamin Sesko had a quiet night at Newcastle but still earned a player of the month nomination for February.
The 22-year-old started successive games for the first time under Carrick in midweek, having scored four goals in five games.
All nine of Sesko’s United goals have come from inside the area and Carrington sources say his next aim is to score from outside the penalty box.
Sesko arrived at United with a reputation for a particularly fierce shot but has rarely pulled the trigger from distance.
TEST YOUR MAN UTD SMARTS WITH OUR QUIZ
REMEMBER THE NAME…
United have a new 14-year-old rising star in the academy.
Jaice Dore is a winger who has been shining for the U15s and U16s this season and is tipped to make his U18 debut this year.
That means he could match JJ Gabriel‘s club record as the youngest player to ever feature for United’s Under-18s.
Dore’s hat-trick against Stoke City on Thursday night secured the U15s place in the quarter-finals of the Floodlit Shield against Sunderland.
“Remember the name”, was the verdict from US-based youth scout Marcus Chairez, who dubbed Dore the best talent at last month’s Snow Bowl 2026 flag football tournament in Florida.
The winger won the Golden Boot with five goals in three games, including a hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund and a winner against Chicago Fire to send United to the final.
Like Gabriel, Dore is also signed with Nike and plays for England‘s Under-15s. He was also the standout player at the Super Cup NI last year.
Dore joined United in 2020 at age eight from Fletcher Moss Rangers – the grassroots club where Marcus Rashford started out at in Didsbury, Manchester.
RAT RACE
Ratcliffe did not spend long on the ground at United’s training complex on Wednesday.
The 73-year-old touched down in Manchester just before midday and spent around six hours at United’s base before flying up to Newcastle for the game.
Ratcliffe’s private jet ferried him from Newcastle to Nice Airport, where he touched down just before 2am on Thursday morning.
The Ineos founder primarily resides in nearby Monaco.
