Squad Unrest and Leaks Disrupt Manchester United’s Pre-Season Preparations Under AmorimManchester United’s pre-season preparations at Carrington have been severely disrupted by internal unrest and persistent leaks, creating a turbulent environment for newly appointed manager Rúben Amorim as he attempts to lay the foundation for the 2025/26 season.
Following a disastrous 15th-place finish in the previous Premier League campaign — the club’s worst in the modern era — Amorim was brought in to spearhead a comprehensive rebuild.
However, his vision for a disciplined, unified squad has been complicated by a series of ongoing issues that threaten to derail the club’s recovery before it even begins.
Key Players Deemed Surplus to RequirementsAt the heart of the unrest is a group of five players — Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia — whom Amorim has deemed surplus to requirements.
Despite giving a clear directive for the players to secure moves away from the club, none of their departures had been finalized as of the start of pre-season training on July 7.
Amorim, who had hoped to see progress during his five-week absence from Carrington, returned to find those players still under contract and, in some cases, physically present.
Rashford, for instance, has returned to train individually, reportedly scheduling his sessions to avoid the main squad.
The others have delayed their return to training, reportedly to continue working on potential transfers.
The situation has created what insiders describe as a “shadow hanging over Carrington,” disrupting the unity and tactical focus Amorim had hoped to instill from day one.
The manager’s plans to implement his trademark 3-4-3 system have been stalled by uncertainty surrounding player availability and squad composition.
Ongoing Leak Problem ReturnsCompounding the problem is the return of a long-standing issue at Manchester United: the leaking of sensitive team information.
The club has battled with leaks since the José Mourinho era, with the most notable recent incident occurring in December 2024, when Amorim’s lineup for the Manchester derby was leaked nearly a day in advance.
Though the manager publicly addressed the issue in January — resulting in a temporary decline in incidents — the problem has resurfaced this summer.
Reports suggest there have been new breaches of confidentiality, further undermining Amorim’s authority and complicating his tactical planning.
“It’s impossible to fix nowadays because you have a lot of people in the club.
Players talk with agents, friends. It’s not a good thing, but let’s move on,” Amorim said earlier this year, acknowledging the scope of the issue.
Breakdown in Player RelationshipsTensions have also flared publicly.
Garnacho’s strained relationship with Amorim worsened after the winger’s brother, Roberto, accused the manager on social media of scapegoating Alejandro following the Europa League final loss to Tottenham.
Rashford, meanwhile, has distanced himself from the club online, recently changing his X bio to read “England International Footballer,” further signaling discontent.
Antony and Sancho — two of United’s highest-profile signings in recent years — remain on the books with no significant transfer interest.
Sancho, who trained alone under Erik ten Hag, appears likely to continue doing so under Amorim.
Antony’s £86 million price tag, coupled with underwhelming performances, has made him difficult to offload.
Transfer Market Frustrations MountManchester United’s failure to clear unwanted players has not only impacted morale but also limited the club’s ability to invest in new signings.
While the £62.5 million capture of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and the arrival of young Paraguayan talent Diego León are positive steps, negotiations for top target Bryan Mbeumo are now entering a sixth week.
United legend Rio Ferdinand has voiced support for Amorim’s strict stance on discipline and standards, but he has also criticized the club’s inability to execute transfers efficiently, calling the delay in securing Mbeumo a potential “embarrassment.”Fan frustration is growing on social media.
Users like @valenciasen66 and @jkisthe1 have expressed disappointment at what they perceive as a lack of urgency and ambition from the club’s ownership group, INEOS, with many pointing out that United entered pre-season with only one confirmed arrival and no player sales.
Project Avalon OvershadowedUnited’s £50 million investment in the Carrington training complex, part of the “Project Avalon” modernization initiative, was intended to mark a fresh start.
However, the ongoing disciplinary issues and unresolved departures have overshadowed the revamped facilities and undermined the symbolic reset.
Amorim had expressed his desire to use “every minute” of pre-season to instill his tactical philosophy and build a cohesive team dynamic.
Instead, he faces a fractured squad still battling the cultural problems that contributed to last season’s decline.
Looking AheadUnited’s first pre-season friendly is scheduled for July 19 against Leeds United in Stockholm, followed by a U.S. tour that will include high-profile fixtures.
But unless the club can resolve its off-field issues quickly — particularly player departures and dressing room cohesion — Amorim’s rebuild could face significant delays.
The pressure is mounting on both the manager and the club’s leadership to demonstrate progress. For now, the vision of a new era at Old Trafford remains clouded by old problems that refuse to go away.