a day ago
Rashford and co summoned back to United... to train when Amorim has gone home
Manchester United's five outcasts have been summoned back to the club's Carrington training base this week – but at times that ensure no contact with Ruben Amorim and the rest of the first-team squad.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were given additional time away from United when the squad returned for pre-season last week amid uncertainty over their futures.
But the unwanted players have now been instructed to start reporting back this week but only after 5pm once head coach Amorim and the rest of their team-mates have left Carrington and the main group sessions have ended.
Amorim is eager to offload the quintet this summer to raise funds to reinvest in his squad and has adopted a ruthless approach with those out-of-favour players.
The facilities at Carrington remained open for the five players to use last week if they wished so long as they were not there at the same time as Amorim and the main squad.
Rashford took up that option to work with the club's fitness staff on several occasions last week in what was described as a co-ordinated return.
Last Thursday, when only some of the youngest junior sides were at Carrington, he was joined at Carrington by Garnacho.
Rashford, Sancho, Garnacho, Antony and Malacia have also been asked to come to Carrington this weekend when the rest of the first-team squad have travelled to Stockholm to face Leeds United in their opening pre-season friendly on Saturday.
United sources indicated that the five players had informed the club they wished to leave, hence being given extra time off, but some of the players' camps have disputed that and made it clear they have been happy to return to training with the rest of the squad on July 7.
Amorim and his squad are due to fly to Chicago on Tuesday for the start of their pre-season tour of the United States, where they are taking part in the Premier League Summer Series with Everton, Bournemouth and West Ham United.
United – who have signed Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5 million – are working to complete a deal for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo but will need to offload players to recruit other targets wanted by Amorim.
The Portuguese would like a striker, central midfielder and centre-back while a hamstring injury to André Onana that may rule the Cameroonian out for around six weeks could force United into the market for a new goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher has been appointed as lead coach of United's Under-18s team. The former United and Scotland manager, who has previously served as technical director and a first-team coach, eventually wants to move into management.
Fletcher had considered senior academy roles in the past but was reluctant to take them up while his twin sons Jack and Tyler were eligible to represent those age groups.
He will also take a key leadership role in the academy but will not now travel to the US with Amorim and the rest of his staff.
