August 09, (THEWILL) — Manchester United concluded their pre-season preparations with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Fiorentina following a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The match marked the unveiling of new signing Benjamin Sesko, whose £74m transfer from RB Leipzig was confirmed earlier in the day.
The Slovenia international watched from the stands as United struggled to break down a determined Fiorentina side.
Fiorentina took an early lead when Simon Sohm converted Albert Gudmundsson’s corner in the eighth minute. United responded in the 25th minute through an own goal by Robin Gosens, who deflected Lenny Yoro’s header from Bruno Fernandes’ delivery into his net.
Despite dominating possession, United were repeatedly denied by former goalkeeper David de Gea, making his first return to Old Trafford since departing in 2023.
De Gea produced key saves to thwart Yoro and Harry Maguire before being substituted to a standing ovation late in the match.
Fiorentina came close to restoring their lead when Sohm struck the crossbar, but neither side could find a winner in regulation time.
The match proceeded to penalties, where Altay Bayindir’s save from Fabiano Parisi allowed Kobbie Mainoo to seal victory with the decisive spot-kick.
Sesko’s arrival signals a major overhaul of United’s attack, with the 22-year-old joining Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in a new-look forward line.
Manager Ruben Amorim now has a £200m trio at his disposal ahead of their English Premier League opener against Arsenal.
The match provided a stern test for United, who will need sharper finishing when competitive action resumes.
Pre-season concluded with silverware as United lifted the Snapdragon Cup, but attention now turns to the League campaign.
Amorim will hope Sesko’s introduction adds the clinical edge missing against Fiorentina, while defensive frailties at set-pieces remain a concern.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
