JJ Gabriel set for tour debut as World Cup absences shape Manchester United's European pre-season

Manchester United will conduct their entire pre-season on European soil this summer for the first time since 2002, with a six-game schedule spanning Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Republic of Ireland and Poland — and a crop of young players set to take centre stage while senior internationals remain at the World Cup.

The club confirmed the final fixture of their summer programme earlier this week, completing a run that includes matches against Wrexham in Helsinki, Rosenborg in Trondheim, Atlético Madrid in Stockholm, Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg, Leeds in Dublin and AC Milan in Wrocław. The decision to stay in Europe is a deliberate effort to limit the air miles accumulated by the squad ahead of the new season.

With 12 first-team players committed to their nations at the World Cup — which runs from 11 June to 19 July — United’s early pre-season sessions at Carrington will be dominated by those not involved internationally. Players available from the outset include André Onana, Tom Heaton, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Bryan Mbeumo, Marcus Rashford and Benjamin Sesko.

The World Cup schedule has also complicated United’s transfer business. The club had been targeting goalkeeper Ederson ahead of pre-season, but his late call-up to the Brazil squad means his expected arrival will be pushed back beyond the tournament’s conclusion.

Among the most closely watched names in the tour squad will be JJ Gabriel. The highly-rated youngster is set to travel with the first-team group as United look to demonstrate there is a clear pathway to senior football for him. Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher are also in contention after both came off the bench in the final Premier League fixture of the season against Brighton.

United typically begin pre-season in the first week of July, with players returning from their summer breaks for fitness testing at Carrington before travelling. Michael Carrick, who has been linked with a role at the club, is among the names in the background as the new coaching structure takes shape ahead of the campaign.

Excluding the pandemic-enforced home summers of 2020 and 2021, United have played outside Europe in every pre-season since 2003, making this summer’s continental-only tour a notable departure from recent tradition.