Benjamin Sesko’s unveiling may have been the focus, but Manchester United’s match against Fiorentina was not just about wrapping up their pre-season schedule. It also felt like the beginning of something new for the club.
Sesko signed a five-year deal with United, who paid an initial £66m for him. The 21-year-old brings a rare blend of speed and strength, and there’s a lot of talk about what he might become.
Ruben Amorim spoke highly of the former RB Leipzig forward after the match, clearly pleased to have a new striker in place. But he was also quick to remind everyone that expectations should be managed, given his age.
The manager mentioned that there was something important waiting for Sesko on his first day at Carrington. It was not about tactics or pressure from fans – it was something simpler than that.
Ruben Amorim says Benjamin Sesko will notice he has made the right choice
Sesko is the same age as Rasmus Hojlund, but he arrives with far more experience than the Dane had when he first joined United.
Beyond that, it is important to notice that the Slovenian star joins a team that now has a clearer identity and direction under Ruben Amorim, who has helped stabilise the club after a difficult spell last season.
Sesko’s decision to reject Newcastle’s proactive approach was influenced by these factors, and Amorim believes Sesko will recognise the same upon his first training session at United.
A number of United players have mentioned how much better things feel around Carrington this pre-season compared to last year, and Amorim believes the new forward will notice it straight away.
He said: “He will realise during his first training that he is at the right place [for his development]. That’s really important. He has the characteristics that we needed.
“[Sesko] is a player that, with all the information that we have, we need to stop the guy from working. It’s not the opposite. So that is also important. He’s really young. He’s good in the air. He’s good running the channels. He’s good on the ball. So I think he has great potential.
“I think he can improve a lot. And for sure he’s going to feel at home in our club. He’s the right character to be in this group. So we are really, really happy to have him.”
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Sesko backed to end long-running United striker issues
Since Robin van Persie’s title-winning season under Sir Alex Ferguson, United have tried just about every approach possible to fill the No. 9 role.
The Red Devils have gone with short-term fixes like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Radamel Falcao, and Edinson Cavani. They have also tried developing younger players like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Rasmus Hojlund. None of them truly established themselves as the answer.
Without success with either big prospects or established stars, Ineos have chosen to stick with their long-term project, signing another young striker who could solve the club’s problems for a decade.
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