Ruben Amorim to 'Banish' Four Man Utd Players From USA Pre-Season Tour Squad

Ruben Amorim is set to axe four players from Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the USA. Determined to turn things around at the Theatre of Dreams, the former Sporting manager is making bold moves both in and out of the squad. While his recruitment team acted swiftly to secure Matheus Cunha - and with Bryan Mbuemo now close to joining him - the focus has shifted back to offloading players who don’t fit into his plans.

A club source told The Sun that Amorim has been asserting his authority in recent weeks - and not just for the sake of raising funds for new signings. The source said: "He only wants players who would die for the shirt and are on board with his ideas. He also wants a smaller squad to create an intimate team bond so that everyone gets enough game time to be at peak fitness when called upon. He doesn’t want any bad apples or distractions.”

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The 40-year-old didn’t hold back last season, calling the current squad the worst in the club’s history. After overseeing Man United’s worst league campaign since relegation in 1973/74 - capped off by a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final - Amorim is now under pressure to deliver. As a result, four players are now on the chopping block and won’t be part of the club’s long-term goals.

Alejandro Garnacho

The search for a new club began after Alejandro Garnacho was benched for the Europa League final by Amorim. The Argentine was made to warm up for 20 minutes at the start of the second half, only to be given just 19 minutes of actual game time - a decision that sparked a major fallout between him, Amorim, and his agent brother. Tensions came to a head when Amorim reportedly told Garnacho during a training meeting to start looking for a new club.

Initially, it appeared he would be off to Chelsea, with the winger himself naming Stamford Bridge as his preferred destination. But he has since become the subject of Napoli's interest. The Serie A champions have already bid £45 million, but United want £70m for the Argentina international. A move to Italy would see him reunite with Scott McTominay, who has thrived since fleeing M16.

Jadon Sancho

Napoli have also expressed an interest in Jadon Sancho, whose future remains in limbo. Chelsea declined the opportunity to sign the on-loan winger for £25 million and instead opted to pay a £5 million penalty to send him back to Old Trafford. After falling out with Erik ten Hag last summer - and having previously been handed a second chance - there won’t be a third bite of the cherry for the Englishman.

At 25 years old, Sancho will be best remembered for his stint at Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 53 goals and provided 67 assists in 158 appearances. Still aiming to return to those glory days, he may be worth a punt for clubs that have a knack for getting the best out of their players. At the start of his Chelsea loan, he was producing week-in and week-out, but confidence continues to be an issue at the front and centre of Sancho’s game.

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Marcus Rashford

Premier League rivals Newcastle are said to be eyeing Marcus Rashford after Aston Villa chose not to follow up on a loan move - a decision that could hint at concerns Eddie Howe has over keeping Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak in the coming months. A boyhood Manchester United supporter, Rashford was sent out on loan by Amorim, who had concerns about certain mentality issues he wasn’t a fan of.

With 10 goal involvements in 17 appearances at Villa Park, the 27-year-old was briefly reinstated to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel, where he proved to be a thorn in the side of opposing defences. Still with a lot to give - and once considered the heir apparent to Cristiano Ronaldo - he’s another player who could be worth taking a chance on, though his £225,000-per-week salary may prove a stumbling block in contract negotiations.

Antony

Antony joined Man United in 2022 for a staggering £86 million from Ajax, but his dream move quickly turned sour. Despite making 96 appearances, the 25-year-old has registered just 12 goals and five assists - a far cry from the impact United expected from such a high-profile signing.

His struggles only deepened under new boss Amorim, and while questions over his future had been brewing for some time, a successful loan spell at Real Betis showed he was better off elsewhere. Unable to meet the physical demands of English football, Antony thrived in La Liga, becoming something of a poster boy for Betis. He notched six goals and six assists in 26 appearances, proving a much better fit for the more expressive, technical style of Spanish football. His departure will be one he is fully supportive of as he looks to prove he was worth his top billing as an Ajax wonderkid a few years back.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 20/06/2025)

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