Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly barred four unnamed first-team players from the club’s pre-season tour to Sweden and the USA, a decision that has fueled squad unrest and raised concerns about alienating key figures ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
The move, reported by The Sun on June 19, 2025, reflects Amorim’s uncompromising stance as he seeks to reshape United’s squad following their dismal 15th-place finish and Europa League final loss last season.
While the players’ identities remain undisclosed in some reports, sources indicate they are likely Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho, all of whom have been linked with exits.
Amorim’s decision stems from his desire for a smaller, more committed squad, with a club insider stating, “He only wants players who would die for the shirt and are on board with his ideas.”
The banned quartet, if still at United by the tour’s start on July 19, will train alone at Carrington, a move echoing Sir Alex Ferguson’s handling of Roy Keane in 2005.
The pre-season fixtures include Leeds United in Stockholm, followed by West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton in the USA.
The exclusion, aimed at fostering team unity in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, has sparked tension, with players like Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro reportedly frustrated by the manager’s hardline approach, per The Athletic.
Fan sentiment on X is polarized, with @MUFCScoop noting the “ruthless” decision as a sign of Amorim’s authority, while @utdtribune warned it could “backfire” if key talents leave. United’s £358.5 million summer spending on Harry Kane, Viktor Gyökeres, Bryan Mbeumo, and Diego Leon, funded partly by Garnacho’s £50 million move to Arsenal, underscores the rebuild. However, the potential loss of experienced players, combined with nine contract expirations (including Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen) and ongoing talks for Eberechi Eze against Amorim’s wishes, risks further destabilizing the squad.
With no European football next season, Amorim’s focus on discipline and youth—evident in Diego Leon’s signing—aims to restore United’s competitiveness.
Yet, the unrest, coupled with injuries to Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw, could hinder preparations for the season opener against Arsenal on August 17.
If the quartet’s sales falter, United may face financial and morale challenges, testing Amorim’s vision.
