It’s 21 years since Manchester United first arrived in Chicago having left a number of star names at home, drawing criticism from a US audience who didn’t appreciate that Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were resting after Euro 2004 and the Copa America or preparing for the Athens Olympics.
Fans even booed when a United side featuring very few big names besides Roy Keane fought out a drab goalless draw with Bayern Munich here at Soldier Field, forcing Sir Alex Ferguson to fly in reinforcements for the remaining two games in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
When a significantly stronger United head back to the Windy City on Tuesday there will again be some notable absentees, but it’s safe to say there is little chance of Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho Antony or Tyrell Malacia getting an SOS call from Ruben Amorim.
The United boss will be happy to leave them behind to train at Carrington as United set up camp in Chicago ahead of Saturday’s opening game of the Premier League Summer Series against West Ham in New Jersey, a meeting with Bournemouth at Soldier Field and the final tour game against Everton in Atlanta.
With Marcus Rashford already in Barcelona to complete a loan move to the Nou Camp, Amorim clearly thinks it would be too much of a distraction to have the rest of his ‘bomb squad’ on the trip having kept them away from their teammates for the first two weeks of pre-season training and Saturday’s goalless draw with Leeds in Stockholm.
Sancho went to the US and played on tour last summer despite his fall-out with Erik ten Hag, but Amorim wants a clean slate and that is understandable.
Ruben Amorim has left a number of big-names out of Man United’s tour to the United States
Alejandro Garnacho is a member of Man United’s bomb squad who will not travel, while Marcus Rashford is closing in on a move to Barcelona on an initial loan
Jadon Sancho played on Man United’s tour last summer despite his fall-out with Erik ten Hag but Amorim wants a clean slate and has left the winger at home
He will also be delighted to have Bryan Mbeumo on the plane to Illinois after his £71m move from Brentford went through on Monday night.
United have committed more than £130m to signing Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, giving Amorim the two bespoke No10s he wants for his 3-4-2-1 system, and two attackers who are proven in the Premier League.
United’s traditions have been built on exciting wingers but Rashford, Sancho, Garnacho and Antony have become an endangered species at Old Trafford this summer. Malacia, meanwhile, was the first signing of the Ten Hag era but does not fit the specific requirements to be a left wing-back under his successor.
Amorim knows what he wants and United’s leadership team should be commended for backing him in that regard.
Still, there is something rather incongruous about a club so desperately in need of goals – a problem underlined again in Stockholm – freezing out so much attacking talent.
Leaving them at home may be better for morale, but it could also cost United a fortune this summer. By making it abundantly clear that they are surplus to requirements, the club have severely compromised their bargaining position on a group of players who were valued at close to £350m at their peak.
United will find new homes for all five, but at what cost?
Rashford’s price rocketed to £100m not so long ago, but he will be allowed to join Barcelona for around £30m next summer if his loan is a success. The 27-year-old is understood to have taken a 15 per cent wage-cut to help the deal go through with Barca agreeing to pay all of his salary.
Amorim will be delighted to have Bryan Mbeumo on board with the deal confirmed on Monday
Garnacho is part of a group of talented players whose value has plummeted by being exiled
Another loan spell is a possibility for Antony while Tyrell Malacia is also available
Garnacho was valued at around £70m when Napoli made an approach for him in January, but United would consider offers of around £40m for the Argentina winger after Amorim told him to find a new club. The 21-year-old wants to stay in the Premier League and there is interest from Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Antony is the second most expensive player in United’s history following his £86m move from Ajax three years ago, but would fetch less than half that now with the Old Trafford hierarchy likely to consider offers under £40m.
Although the Brazil winger impressed on loan at Real Betis last season, the Spaniards are reluctant to pay above £25m or £50,000-a-week towards his wages, so another loan spell in Seville is a possibility.
Sancho cost £73m from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, but United are struggling to offload him for a fraction of that price after Chelsea paid a £5m penalty rather than turn his loan into a permanent £25m transfer.
With the 25-year-old now in the final 11 months of his contract, and his £275,000-a-week wages a significant stumbling block, United may have to consider another loan amid interest from Juventus.
Malacia, who cost £14.7m from Feyenoord when he became the first signing of the Ten Hag era, is available after returning from a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos would no doubt argue that they are paying for the excesses of a previous regime. They would prefer to sell players rather than loan them where possible as they look to raise money for more new signings after bringing in Mbeumo and Cunha.
A striker is the next priority as United work out what to do with Rasmus Hojlund, another player whose value has halved since he signed from Atalanta for £72m two years ago.
Throw in a central midfielder and possibly a goalkeeper, and there will be plenty to occupy Amorim’s thoughts on Tuesday’s flight to Chicago.
