Manchester United are set for a genuinely interesting preseason this summer, with the club confirming they will face AC Milan, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Wrexham on their tour. Yes, you read that right — Wrexham are in that list, which is either brilliant scheduling or someone at Old Trafford having a very good laugh.
The Milan game is the one that will get people talking though, and not just because Christian Pulisic is likely to feature for the Italian side. Pulisic has been one of Serie A's standout performers over the past couple of seasons and seeing him line up against United will be a decent test of whatever system Ruben Amorim is trying to build. Preseason friendlies are often written off as meaningless, but they do give you a genuine feel for where a team is heading, and right now United fans need something to feel good about.
Atlético Madrid and PSG are both serious opponents too. Diego Simeone's side are always aggressive, organised and uncomfortable to play against regardless of the time of year, and PSG have the kind of individual quality that can hurt you even when nobody is trying particularly hard. These are the sorts of games that will actually stretch United's squad rather than letting everyone coast through at 60 percent.
Then there's Wrexham. Look, it's a fun story and a great occasion for the club, but let's be honest — it's also a savvy bit of marketing from both sides. United get a feel-good moment and Wrexham get a massive platform. Nobody is pretending this one is about tactical preparation, and that's absolutely fine. Football is allowed to be fun sometimes.
From a United perspective, preseason cannot come quickly enough. The 2024-25 campaign has been a difficult watch at times and there is a real need to see some positive signs of progress under Amorim before next season kicks off. A tough schedule like this should at least give fans something to analyse and debate over the summer months.
Let me know your thoughts.