Rúben Amorim has finally unlocked a key part of his Sporting CP side following Manchester United’s 4-1 pre-season victory over Bournemouth.
Manchester United cruised to a dominant 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in the third fixture of their 2025 pre-season tour, as Rúben Amorim’s side impressed once again.
The Reds started with high intensity and were quickly rewarded when Rasmus Højlund headed home from a Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu cross, giving United an early lead inside 10 minutes.
Amorim’s men continued to control proceedings, and by the 25th minute, they had doubled their advantage thanks to another contribution from Dorgu, who played a key role in both goals before the break.
United carried their momentum into the second half, with Amad adding a third after pouncing on a loose ball in the box and finishing clinically following some slick build-up play.
A flurry of substitutions followed, and with 20 minutes left, Academy striker Ethan Williams netted United’s fourth after a surging run from summer arrival Diego Leon. Although Matthijs de Ligt scored an own goal late on, it was merely a footnote in a commanding win for United in Chicago.
Amorim challenged Amad ahead of kick-off
Ahead of the game, Amorim was questioned on what he wanted to see from Amad, who was starting the tie in the right No. 10 position as new signing Bryan Mbeumo continued to build his match fitness.
A lot has been made of the future of Amad within the side due to Mbeumo’s £65 million transfer, and the Ivorian international has been touted as the potential new first-choice option at right wing-back.
“It’s a different position for him,” Amorim explained. “He needs to be prepared to play there. I think it’s really important to have a left foot in that position.
“Of course, we have also Bryan [Mbeumo] in that position, but the season is long, and we want to see [whether] Amad can give us a different option when he plays a winger or as a number 10. So we want to see different things in preparedness.”
However, after a comparatively quiet display against West Ham last week, the tie against Bournemouth represented the perfect chance to rise to Amorim’s challenge and remind the football world why is is so highly-rated at Old Trafford.
Amad and Dorgu are giving Amorim what he needs
While Amad started as a No. 10, it was his contributions in the middle third and willingness to run back so often that were his main highlights.
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Dorgu was simply fantastic on the right flank, and if the young Dane can keep that level of performance alongside Amad’s well-known abilities on the other side, Amorim may finally have what made his Sporting CP side such a joy to watch.
If all goes to plan, Amorim could have a ‘stunning’ wing-back pairing in Dorgu and Amad, which will help the side become both more physically imposing and technically astute side.
With Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo set to become the new attacking threats on either side of the striker next season, Amorim’s potential front five is shaping up to look more and more threatening as pre-season continues.
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