Man Utd star like a brand new signing as Michael Carrick’s facet run riot vs Rosenborg

Michael Carrick was all smiles as his Manchester United side beat Rosenborg in a worthwhile pre-season test as one star looks like a new signing

Manchester United’s pre-season work continued with a straightforward 5-0 win against a Rosenborg team midway through their season.

Michael Carrick’s side travelled to Trondheim to take on the Norwegian outfit for the fourth time in history, all in friendly games. The prospect of taking on Norway’s most successful club is one that will serve United’s players well with the Eliteserien season already 13 games in. While Rosenborg have been far from good enough in the league for their standards, it was a team at their peak fitness levels.

However, United matched them physically and controlled the game. The likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu and new £50million signing Andrey Santos all started the friendly having missed out on the World Cup.

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And the talent on display showed as United led 1-0 at the break through Shea Lacey’s goal as the first teamer’s application couldn’t be faulted. The Reds’ side took on a more youthful look at Carrick introduced the youngsters throughout the second half and the goal continue to flow, with Zirkzee, 19-year-old Jacob Devaney and Harry Amass getting on the scoresheet.

Santos’ energy and eye for a pass has been an early positive sign in his United career with the Brazilian dropping deep into pockets before turning and progressing the ball up the pitch.

Meanwhile, Dorgu’s return from injury at the end of the season has left the Denmark international almost feeling like a new signing following his goals from the left wing against Manchester City and Arsenal in Carrick’s first two games. However, his form was stopped by a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old was signed as a wing-back under Ruben Amorim but has looked his best playing on the wing, even scoring a brilliant goal for Denmark earlier this summer. Dorgu poses a powerful strike and he went the closest to opening the scoring when he struck the outside of the post shortly before the hour mark.

But it was another young talent who opened the scoring minutes later when Lacey cut inside onto his left foot and bent an inch-perfect effort into the far corner, latching onto a brilliantly weighted pass from Joshua Zirkzee, who again looked better dropping deeper in possession.

Lacey was a bright start under Darren Fletcher’s short interim tenure but his season was cut short earlier after being sent off against Brighton in the FA Cup and picking up an injury. It took until the final day of the season for Lacey to appear again, but the 19-year-old is sure to have more first-team chances this season.

United dominated the following proceedings and Leny Yoro was denied making it two when his header from Bryan Mbeumo’s free-kick bounced off the crossbar.

The Reds doubled their lead early in the second half with Zirkzee producing a filthy finish, sitting down one defender before doing the same to the goalkeeper and rolling the ball into an open net. The Dutchman’s technical ability has never been in doubt and Carrick could save United millions chasing another striker if he can get the best out of Zirkzee, while speculation still swirls around his future.

Teenage midfielder Devaney added a third moment later. The Ireland youth international, who spent last season on loan at St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, smashed the ball into the roof of the net when the ball broke from a corner.

Harry Amass got himself on the scoresheet with 20 minutes left as the left-back slid in at the back post to turn home Jaydan Kamason’s cross. The 19-year-old made his Reds debut at the end of the 2025/26 campaign and spent last season on loan in the Championship at Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich, but injury limited him to just one appearance since the New Year.

It remains to be seen whether Amass will leave the club on loan again this summer as United eye a new left-back signing. Alternatively, he could remain in the first-team as backup to Shaw.

Williams made it five with as many minutes left of the game when the 20-year-old winger found himself on the end of another cross from Kamason.

United will take a major step up in pre-season next when they take on Atletico Madrid on Saturday.