Charlie Savage, Hannibal Mejbri and Rhys Bennett are all training with Manchester United’s first-team as the Premier League giants begin pre-season on Thursday.
During Erik ten Hag’s first summer at the Old Trafford helm, there were plenty of opportunities afforded to some of Manchester United’s most exciting young talent.
Facundo Pellistri scored in a 4-0 thrashing of Liverpool. Charlie Savage excelled in the centre of the park, and Zidane Iqbal was so impressive that the confirmation of his move to FC Utrecht last month was met with a great deal of bewilderment by those who expected to see the talented playmaker force his way into the senior squad.
Savage, after an eye-catching loan spell at Forest Green Rovers, will be hoping to pick up where he left off a year ago, Athletic reporter Laurie Whitwell reporting that the 20-year-old is one of a number of players being put through their paces by Ten Hag on Manchester United’s first day of pre-season training.
Hannibal Mejbri is also building up his fitness alongside the likes of Raphael Varane, Antony and the returning Lisandro Martinez. Hannibal excelled on loan at Birmingham City last term, and could yet follow Iqbal out the door amid interest from Borussia Dortmund.
19-year-old Rhys Bennett is part of Ten Hag’s first-team for the time being too. The Manchester-born centre-half, who can also play at left-back, featured on the bench during December’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. But he is yet to make his senior bow in the famous red shirt. Bennett previous captained United’s U18 side.
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Manchester United begin pre-season training
Ten Hag is also expected to hand opportunities to the likes of Alvaro Fernandez and Amad Diallo. Both of whom excelled in the Championship with Preston North End and Sunderland in 2022/23.
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“The loan manager from Manchester United was in this week,” Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray told the Northern Echo at the start of May, Diallo scoring 14 goals for the play-off semi-finalists.
“We had a good chat. It’s a shame we didn’t do a two-year loan!
“I think Man United are happy. I think the next step is for them to take Amad on pre-season to America. That’s what I think is going to happen. Then they’ll see how he gets on.”
“I’m sure (Ten Hag) has been watching Amad’s clips from games, seeing what he can do. But he’ll need to see him on a daily basis and feel what he brings,” Mowbray adds.
“I’m sure everyone will have an opinion on whether he’s good enough or not good enough for Man United. But the reality is that the manager needs to watch him, see and feel him in a game. See what he brings.”