United Review | Wrexham in Helsinki | Pre Season 2026

United 0 - 1 Wrexham

Manchester United's pre-season campaign got under way with a defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki.

Author | Lee Francis

New signing Andrey Santos played the first 45 minutes of the game following his recent £50m transfer from Chelsea and made a few decent passes and touches. 

The Reds fell behind just before half-time when Sam Smith arrived at the back post to convert Lewis O'Brien's cross. Moments earlier, Smith had rattled the crossbar from a Wrexham corner as United survived an earlier scare.

All change for the second-half

A much younger United side took over after the break and showed plenty of energy. Ethan Wheatley came closest to grabbing an equaliser, while James Scanlon Lacey also tested the Wrexham defence as the Reds controlled much of the second half.

There were also loud appeals for a late penalty, but they were waved away as Wrexham held on. Despite enjoying plenty of possession after the interval, United were unable to find the goal their play deserved against an experienced opposition.

As Michael Carrick had suggested before kick-off, the result was always secondary to building fitness and match sharpness. Valuable minutes were shared across the squad in front of a crowd of 20,069 in Helsinki, with attention now turning to Friday's pre-season clash against Rosenborg.

The teams

First-half XI: Heaton; Yoro, Heaven, Maguire (captain), Shaw; Mount, Santos; Mbeumo, J. Fletcher, Dorgu; Zirkzee.

Second-half XI: Vitek; Kamason, Devaney, Armer, Amass; Collyer, T. Fletcher (captain); Lacey, Gore, Williams; Wheatley.