Manchester United’s academy launched their pre-season campaign this past Friday with a wild double-header in Germany, kicking things off with a solid win before Mother Nature decided to call it quits on the second match. The professional development phase group, covering the U17s to U21s, has been deep in Germany for a week now, grinding at Adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, getting ready for the season ahead. This marks the second year in a row they have used that awesome campus for their pre-season base.
New Blood Shines in Opening Win
The first match of the day saw United’s younger crew, loaded with new 2026 scholar intake players getting their first taste of full-time football, go up against TSV 1860 Munich U17s. And let me tell you, these young guns came to play! Irish youth international Jay McEvoy captained the side, leading them to a sweet 2-0 victory, which is exactly the kind of start you want to see for the Red Devils’ season. Jariyah Shah put one away from the penalty spot, and then first-year scholar Jaume Camacho doubled United’s lead. Guys like Camron Mpofu, Junior Brown, Manu Ziro, Sam O’Brien, and Jaice Dore all got in on the action, showing off what’s coming up through the ranks. That’s a huge shot of confidence for the fresh faces.
Bavarian Thunderstorms Bring a Halt to the Action
Later that night, the older squad, featuring more familiar names from the U21s like Finley McAllister, Jayce Fitzgerald, Albert Mills, Louis Jackson, and Diego Leon, faced off against 1. FC Nürnberg U19s. The conditions were already getting rough and stormy as both sides started trading some physical blows. But man, talk about a short-lived encounter. Just 20 minutes in, massive thunderstorms rolled through, causing a temporary delay. They tried to wait it out for 20 minutes, but the skies had other plans. The match was officially abandoned with the score still locked at 0-0. What a frustrating way to end the day, especially when you are looking to build rhythm and chemistry early.
The U21s, led by Adam Lawrence, have their next confirmed fixture against Altrincham on July 31. Beyond that, expect more matches to be added soon for the professional development phase, which is also set to return to the Otten Innovation Cup in mid-August. And keep an eye out for the U16s who will be hitting the SuperCupNI later this month before their annual trip to Hong Kong for the JC Youth Football Academy Summit in August. This pre-season is all about getting these young players ready, and despite the washout, that first win gives us plenty to be hyped about!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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