Ruben Amorim learns stark Man Utd reality in dour pre-season draw against Leeds

Ruben Amorim left Manchester United’s bomb squad at home - but the players he’s ready to put his faith in look far from explosive. Amorim used the first game of pre-season to give no fewer than 24 players a run-out in the Stockholm sunshine after ordering Marcus Rashford and the rest of his misfits to stay behind at Old Trafford.

There were debuts for £62.5million Matheus Cunha and £7million Diego Leon in the Strawberry Arena. Bryan Mbeumo will join the squad in the United States this week after the Reds agreed to meet Brentford’s £70million valuation of the Cameroon international almost two months after the London club made it clear their asking price was non-negotiable.

Amorim will now be hoping that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will free up some cash to sign the goal-scoring striker he craves after Barcelona opened talks about taking Rashford to Spain for the season with a £50million option to buy making the deal a no-brainer for United.

If they can also raise some cash by flogging Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia then perhaps there will be even more wriggle room for new recruits. United certainly need the rebuild to continue at pace.

Amorim was only spared a relegation battle last season by the dire form of the three promoted clubs who eventually went down. There was certainly no obvious gap in quality between the two different teams he sent out in each half to face Daniel Farke’s Football League champions.

READ MORE: Man Utd vs Leeds: Ruben Amorim gets clear transfer message as Matheus Cunha makes impression

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A pedestrian first period ended with Casemiro’s cross flicking off Leeds skipper Ethan Ampadu and glancing the crossbar. But after the kick-off had to be delayed by 10 minutes due to crowd congestion, thrills and spills were at a premium for the 43,345 Scandinavian fans who fancied taking in one of those rivalries that make the Premier League so compelling.

There were Leeds debuts for Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha, with fellow new-boys Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sebastian Bornauw following suit in the second half after starting on the bench.

Leeds will strengthen further this week when German midfielder Anton Stach arrives from Hoffenheim for £17million. Farke also rang the changes after the break, with Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell, a minority investor at Elland Road, travelling to Sweden to offer his support from the posh seats.

Ferrell might have had reason to smile in the second half as Leeds carved out decent chances for Jayden Bogle and substitute Largie Ramazani. Both times, keeper Tom Heaton came to United’s rescue with saves that illustrated why he has signed a one-year contract extension at the grand old age of 39.

Amorim made 11 changes at half-time and was forced into another 18 minutes from time when Harry Maguire limped off with a knock. United should have won the contest two minutes from time, but Robbie Mainoo headed against the crossbar and Ayden Heaven fired his follow-up straight at Leeds keeper Illan Meslier from point-blank range.

Amorim's squad now head across the Atlantic - but the United manager will be keeping a close eye on what's happening to the players left behind in Manchester.

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