Manchester United were held by Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly before the start of the new Premier League season.
New signing Benjamin Sesko was presented to the fans alongside fellow newcomers Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon prior to kick-off, before ex-United hero David de Gea - now at La Viola - was honoured for his service at the club.
Fiorentina quelled the feeling of goodwill inside Old Trafford by taking an early lead, with Simon Sohm latching onto a corner misread by the entire United to defence to volley home inside eight minutes.
Ruben Amorim’s side managed to respond after a chaotic Bruno Fernandes corner led to an own goal from Robin Gosens, but the Red Devils were unable to find a winner after the break, requiring a penalty shootout of questionable significance to determine a victor.
United fired in five flawless penalties to technically overcome their Italian opponents, but more focus will be given to the 90 minutes that were seen ahead of their domestic opener against Arsenal next weekend.
Follow all the action from Old Trafford with our live blog below:
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Manchester United vs Fiorentina live
- Manchester United held by Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly of the season
- The Red Devils come out on top in the subsequent penalty shootout to win the Snapdragon Cup
- United confirmed signing of striker Benjamin Sesko and unveiled him at Old Trafford
- David de Gea made his Old Trafford return to a hero's reception
- 25' GOAL! Gosens knocks into his own net after Fernandes corner causes chaos [MNU 1-1 FIO]
- 8' GOAL! Sohm fires home after Man Utd completely misread corner [MNU 0-1 FIO]
Man United's pre-season in full
17:00
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Will Castle
That’s it for pre-season for the Red Devils!
They now prepare for their first competitive game of the campaign as they face the stern test of Arsenal next weekend.
Here’s a rundown of all of Man United’s pre-season results over the past few months:
May 28: Asean All Stars 1-0 Man Utd
July 19: Man United 0-0 Leeds
July 27: Man United 2-1 West Ham
July 31: Man United 4-1 Bournemouth
August 3: Man United 2-2 Everton
August 9: Man United 1-1 Fiorentina
The farewell David De Gea never got
16:45
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Will Castle
Man United held in final pre-season outing
16:30
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Will Castle
Why Man United’s imperfect pre-season finale opens the door for greater things
16:17
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Richard Jolly
It was about the goalscorer and the goalkeeper, the future and the past. Benjamin Sesko took to the Old Trafford pitch for the first time, but in a tracksuit top, a few minutes before kick-off, his unveiling coming as a spectator. David de Gea may have played at the ground he long graced for the last time, a pre-season friendly between Manchester United and Fiorentina at least giving him the farewell he was denied when released two years ago.
Perhaps it was United’s transfers in microcosm, the excitement of the expensive arrival, the disappointment of the cheap exit. But Sesko, whose £65m arrival from RB Leipzig was finalised earlier in the morning, was hailed by United director of football Jason Wilcox as a player with the potential to be world class. And De Gea, at his best, was: United’s four-time player of the year, a man who topped 500 appearances for them and, before the decline of his final few seasons, ranked among the finest goalkeepers in the game. He was presented with a framed montage by his former teammate Bruno Fernandes before the game; there were further cheers when he prevented Harry Maguire from scoring a spectacular long-range goal and he came off to a standing ovation a couple of minutes before the end.
Richard Jolly reports from Old Trafford:
Benjamin Sesko paraded at Old Trafford after Man United confirm new signing
16:15
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Will Castle
Manchester United unveiled new signing Benjamin Sesko to the Old Trafford faithful ahead of their final pre-season outing ahead of a crucial Premier League campaign.
Sesko’s £66.5m move from RB Leipzig, which could rise to £73.3m if add-ons are triggered, was confirmed on Saturday morning as Ruben Amorim took his spending in the summer transfer window to over £200m.
He is United’s third major signing of the summer, joining marquee arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo through the door, the Slovenian striker was welcomed to a rapturous reception at the “Theatre of Dreams” prior to his new side’s clash against Fiorentina.
Man United's new boys in action
16:00
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Will Castle
Encouraging cameos from both Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha this afternoon as the pair made their home debuts.
Old Trafford welcomes its newcomers
15:45
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Will Castle
'We will be ready for Arsenal'
15:30
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Will Castle
“Now it's going to be tough because we are trying to arrange a full week of training,” Amorim told MUTV.
“We will have two really strong sessions with time to work and then we are going to break a little bit, then two days to really think about the strategy for the game.
“We'll be ready.”
Ruben Amorim on his selection headache ahead of Arsenal
15:27
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Will Castle
“That is a good thing,” Ruben Amorim told MUTV. “It's supposed to be like that, not like in last season when we had to struggle to put 11 players on the pitch.
“This is the normal thing. So I need to think and they need to fight during the week so they can change my mind. I have one idea, but they will change my mind during the week.”
Is Benjamin Sesko the missing to piece to Ruben Amorim's puzzle?
15:24
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Will Castle
Ruben Amorim says Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are only operating at “50 or 60 per cent” right now - but the addition of a certain new striker could be just what they need to reach their top level.
“They are maybe at 50 or 60 per cent of what they can do,” Amorim told MUTV. “I think like any other team, we are going to improve during the season and they are going to be so much better.
“In some moments I felt that because of the one against one on the whole pitch, we struggled without a reference as a striker.
“We have a new player, so we'll see.”
Ruben Amorim hails 'unbelievable' Mason Mount
15:20
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Will Castle
“It’s unbelievable,” Amorim told MUTV, speaking on Mount’s work rate. “The way he works, moving all the time from position to position.
“But also the other guys, it was a good test to prepare the first game.”
'We can do better'
15:17
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Will Castle
“For us to take the feeling of playing at Old Trafford out of our system was really good,” Amorim told MUTV. “We had some difficulty, especially in the beginning of first half and in the beginning of the second half. They have a lot of mobility and we struggle to find the right moment to press, but then we control the game.
“I think we have a lack of fluidity in the game. We can do better. It was a perfect game of preparation to show us that we need to improve in the different areas, that we are going to struggle in some moments, but sometimes we have players that can, can make a play and to elevate the stadium.”
Ruben Amorim speaks
15:12
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Will Castle
We’ve just heard from Ruben Amorim. Quotes to come.
A final sendoff before the new season
14:59
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Will Castle
Man United players are doing a lap of honour to give thanks to the fans who came out this afternoon as their pre-season comes to an end.
'Glory, glory Man United'
14:51
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Richard Jolly at Old Trafford
Richard Jolly reporting from Old Trafford:
“Manchester United win a penalty shootout in a pre-season friendly and "Glory, glory Man United" rings around Old Trafford. Not entirely sure why. Still, they took five good penalties.”
GOAL! Manchester United 5-4 Fiorentina
14:50
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Will Castle
The pressure on Mainoo’s shoulders here.
He steps up... AND LASERS INTO THE NET!
Man United win the Snapdragon Cup. Doesn’t get better than this.
SAVE! Manchester United 4-4 Fiorentina
14:48
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Will Castle
Bayindir with a big save to deny Parisi and put United within touching distance of the Snapdragon Cup! The tension!
SHOOTOUT! Manchester United 4-4 Fiorentina
14:48
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Will Castle
Cheeky from Amad who opts for the panenka - and pulls it off.
This is the time to try that sort of stuff, I guess.
SHOOTOUT! Manchester United 3-4 Fiorentina
14:47
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Will Castle
Six perfect penalties - that’s seven. Bayindir again goes the right way but Ndour gets it in the side-netting.
Nail-biting stuff this.
SHOOTOUT! Manchester United 3-3 Fiorentina
14:46
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Will Castle
Fiorentina maintain their 100 per cent record from the spot trough Sabiri before Dalot makes no mistake himself, sticking it down the middle.
SHOOTOUT! Manchester United 2-2 Fiorentina
14:45
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Will Castle
Cunha steps up, and rolls it beyond the keeper. The Brazilian has it in the net wearing red.
SHOOTOUT! Manchester United 1-2 Fiorentina
14:44
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Will Castle
Can Fernandes respond? Yes he can, drilling it into the bottom corner.
Fazzini then restores Fiorentina’s lead, blasting it past Bayindir who guesses the right way.
SHOOTOUT! Manchester United 0-1 Fiorentina
14:43
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Will Castle
Fiorentina to take first.
Kean steps up, and sends Bayindir the wrong way. Calmly slotted home.
Here comes the shootout
14:42
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Will Castle
The spot-kicks will be taken at the Stretford End - what an advantage!
FULL-TIME! Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:40
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Will Castle
Sorry, not nothing. The coveted Snapdragon Cup is on the line.
I can’t reach it Mr. Butcher, the stakes are too high!
FULL-TIME! Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:39
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Will Castle
No stoppage time to be given as the referee blows the whistle for full-time with it ending honours even!
But wait, there’s more. United and Fiorentina are now going to a pointless penalty shootout to decide absolutely nothing.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:37
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Will Castle
90 mins: A chance for Fiorentina to nick it as a loose backpass allows Kean to break into the box.
De Ligt does well to close him down, forcing the under-pressure Italian to shoot wide - in fact, out for a throw.
'A fitting farewell'
14:35
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Richard Jolly at Old Trafford
Richard Jolly reporting from Old Trafford:
“David de Gea has come off to a standing ovation and chorus of his name. It may be a fitting farewell to Old Trafford for United's four-time player of the year.”
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:35
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Will Castle
87 mins: What a moment this is. As the sun comes out, David de Gea is getting his moment as the substitution board goes up with his number showing. A standing ovation - perhaps the farewell he never got.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:33
,
Will Castle
86 mins: Moises Kean breaks in behind - he’s well offside, but Bayindir still manages to stand up to the challenge and deny the Italian before the whistle is blown.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:32
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Will Castle
85 mins: Five minutes of the 90 to go. Can United find a winner and end pre-season on a high?
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:31
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Will Castle
83 mins: Mason Mount has put in a stellar shift this afternoon - he earns a rousing ovation as he makes way for Manuel Ugarte.
There are also three more substitutions for Fiorentina. Dodo, Gosens and Fagioli off; Fortini, Parisi and Sabiri on.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:29
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Will Castle
81 mins: CHANCE! How has that stayed out?!
It’s a lovely move from Mount and Fernandes, who tick it between each other to get the Englishman to the byline.
Mount then fires it across goal to put it on a plate for Cunha, but Richardson produces a piece of miraculous defending to deny the Brazilian and prevent a certain goal.
From the corner that follows, Yoro rises on the edge of the six-yard box but his effort goes straight at De Gea, who claims.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:26
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Will Castle
79 mins: Two more changes for Fiorentina.
Pongracic, who has put in a great shift at centre-back today, makes way for former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari, while Gudmondsson comes off for Fazzini.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:24
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Will Castle
77 mins: Great switch to find Dorgu, who links up with Cunha for a nice give-and-go before pulling back towards Amad.
A Fiorentina shirt gets there first and while Amad goes down in the area, there is no foul.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:21
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Will Castle
75 mins: Looks like Cunha has moved central while Mainoo has joined Fernandes in the middle.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:20
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Will Castle
73 mins: Quadruple substitution for Ruben Amorim’s side.
Dalot, Mainoo, Shaw and De Ligt come on, while Mbeumo, Casemiro, Heaven and Maguire may way.
Expect a tactical shake-up for the remainder of this game.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:18
,
Will Castle
71 mins: United might be about to be forced into their first change of the afternoon with Heaven on the deck and receiving treatment.
'Mount has been United's best player today'
14:16
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Richard Jolly at Old Trafford
Richard Jolly reporting from Old Trafford:
“Mbeumo is playing more as a centre-forward in the second half, with Mount as the right-sided 10. Mount has been arguably United's best player today, but presumably won't be in the first choice team.”
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:14
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Will Castle
67 mins: That would’ve been something special!
Maguire of all people strides towards the edge of the box before letting fly, forcing the parried save out of De Gea.
That had some umph behind it.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:13
,
Will Castle
64 mins: CHANCE! Great ball from Amad is met by a great flick, but with a simple header on a plate, Heaven and Casemiro get it all wrong.
On the edge of the six yard box, the younger of the two knocks into the Brazilian, putting him off balance as the effort flies over.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:10
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Will Castle
63 mins: Dodo finds himself in the book for apparent dissent - perhaps a reaction to the ref not stopping play when Dodo was down.
Now time for a triple change for La Viola.
Dzeko, Sohm and Fagioli make way, as Viti, Richardson and Ndour come on.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:07
,
Will Castle
60 mins: CLOSE! That would have been some way to break your United duck!
Cunha fires from distance towards the bottom left corner and his effort has De Gea scrambling, only to see it fizz just wide.
At the Stretford End, that would’ve gone down well.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:04
,
Will Castle
56 mins: Another elbow in the back sees a United player hit the deck, crying for a penalty that isn’t going to come.
If they’re given, it’s considered soft - but how long does it take until this little nudges are punished by the ref?
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
14:01
,
Will Castle
53 mins: Great work from Mount to bring United forward, with a quick move ending with a Fernandes effort from outside the box.
He’s in acres of space but gets under it and shoots high.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:59
,
Will Castle
52 mins: CHANCE! It’s again Sohm with the opportunity to restore Fiorentina’s lead.
He finds himself free once more in the penalty area and volleys towards the far corner, but Heaven puts in a crucial block. I don’t think Bayindir was seeing that if the defender wasn’t able to stick a leg out.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:57
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Will Castle
50 mins: OFF THE BAR! Just like they did in the first half, La Viola have started on top.
Kean times his run to perfection before whipping a delivery in, finding the head of goalscorer Sohm who comes inches away from a second as he nods onto the bar, beating Dorgu in the air.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:56
,
Will Castle
47 mins: Yoro takes one flush in the face as Pongracic fires a volley into the Frenchman’s skull following a Fiorentina free-kcik.
He stays down for a bit, seeing stars, but he brushes himself and is back up.
It was a potentially crucial intervention - that volley was goalbound.
BACK UNDERWAY! Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:52
,
Will Castle
Slight delay as the referee waits for a couple rogue sprinklers to stop - but as the water ceases, we’re able to get back underway!
Here come the teams...
13:51
,
Will Castle
No changes for Ruben Amorim as he looks to get his players in ship shape to play full games of football.
Second half on the way.
A hero's welcome for David De Gea
13:49
,
Will Castle
Man United fight back to be level at the break
13:47
,
Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:42
,
Will Castle
Manchester United find themselves level with Fiorentina in their final pre-season friendly before the start of the new Premier League season, with the Old Trafford faithful reeling off the unveiling of new signing Benjamin Sesko prior to kick-off.
The Slovenian striker was presented to the fans alongside fellow newcomers Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon, before ex-United hero David de Gea - now at La Viola - was honoured for his service at the club.
Fiorentina quelled the feeling of goodwill inside Old Trafford by taking an early lead, with Simon Sohm latching onto a corner misread by the entire United to defence to volley home inside eight minutes.
Ruben Amorim’s side managed to respond after a chaotic Bruno Fernandes corner led to an own goal from Robin Gosens, but the side have work to do if they are to end pre-season in winning fashion.
HALF-TIME! Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:43
,
Will Castle
As the clock ticks over to 45, the referee deems there to be no need for stoppage time and blows his whistle for half-time.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:33
,
Will Castle
42 mins: Penalty shout for United as Cunha, driving into the box, goes down under pressure.
Looked like his momentum brought him down more than anything and it’s waved away.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:32
,
Will Castle
40 mins: That short corner routine is causing real trouble for Fiorentina.
Once again, corner-taking Mbeumo gets himself into a more favourable position with a one-two with Amad before whipping in with his left foot, this time finding the head of Heaven, who can only nod down the throat of De Gea.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:28
,
Will Castle
38 mins: Wonderful from Mbeumo as he flicks it over one man before driving at full-tilt past another into space down the right, latching onto a dinked return.
He ends up getting surrounded but that’s a glimpse of the electrifying attacking impetus he can provide.
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:25
,
Will Castle
35 mins: Blow for Fiorentina as they’re forced to make a first-half substitution due to injury.
Comuzzo make way as Kouadio enters the fray.
'The United faithful wanted to see a fine save from De Gea'
13:23
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Richard Jolly at Old Trafford
Richard Jolly reporting from Old Trafford:
“Perhaps the United faithful arrived wanting to see a fine save or two from David de Gea. They have just got one, to repel Leny Yoro's close-range header.”
Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina
13:21
,
Will Castle
30 mins: SAVE! De Gea rolling back the years with a stunning save to deny Yoro!
It’s another wonderful delivery from Mbeumo that falls to the Frenchman’s head on the six-yard box, but De Gea manages to guess right from point-blank range and parry away.
Something tells me Old Trafford won’t be too peeved to see De Gea get his moment. But I think they’ll want him to park his heroics for the rest of the game.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Fiorentina (Gosens OG, 25')
13:16
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Will Castle
It’s a complete mess in the box, chaos caused by a superb delivery from Fernandes to the back post - and while bodies were flying all over the place, United have the ball in the net!
It looked like a Gosens OG in the end, even though both Casemiro and Yoro will try and claim it.
Fiorentina wanted a foul as De Gea hit the deck, but the ref was having none of it. It did look like he’d been tripped, but with no VAR in operation, we won’t see if he was taken down by a red or white shirt.
Manchester United 0-1 Fiorentina
13:12
,
Will Castle
Free-kick opportunity for United as Mbeumo fires a left-footed inswinger - and it’s not a bad delivery at all.
It finds the head of Maguire, who is just having to stretch backwards to get on it and can only nod wide.
Manchester United 0-1 Fiorentina
13:09
,
Will Castle
18 mins: Shaky moments at both ends as a loose Casemiro backpass nearly leads to disaster for United.
But up the other end, homecoming hero David de Gea shows why fans began to lament him in his later seasons, almost gifting the ball straight to Mason Mount for an easy tap in.
Manchester United 0-1 Fiorentina
13:04
,
Will Castle
14 mins: Dzeko goes down and stays down, and this is a friendly, United allow play to stop.
That doesn’t stop the fans treating the ex-City frontman like the pantomime villain as boos ring around Old Trafford.
Manchester United 0-1 Fiorentina
13:03
,
Will Castle
12 mins: Signs of a quick response from Man United.
Cunha and Amad link up nicely before the Ivorian drives into the box and fires just wide.
Dorgu is also getting further involved into attacking play, causing trouble with a low delivery from the left.
'They did this too often last season'
13:24
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Will Castle
Richard Jolly reporting from Old Trafford:
“Manchester United have conceded from a corner, which they did too often last season. Harry Maguire has posed a threat from a set-piece, which he did quite a bit then.”
