FOOTBALL has a knack for throwing up the best storylines.
Marcus Rashford wore a new number on his first return to the pitch in Manchester United colours in 20 months – against the man who cut him loose from his boyhood club.
Manchester United took on AC Milan in their final match of pre-season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
It provided an early than expected reunion with former Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim Credit: GETTY
And United players were reunited with a twitchy Ruben Amorim, who picked up his first win after four games in charge.
Amorim is already feeling the heat from Italian fans after bombing out seven players from his squad over his first two months in charge.
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That is a feeling Rashford knows well.
The England forward was banished by Amorim and forced to train separately from his teammates last summer ahead of his season-long loan at Barcelona.
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At that point, plenty – both inside and outside Old Trafford and Rashford himself – felt he had played his last game for United and would not return. United gave his No.10 shirt to new arrival Matheus Cunha.
And yet, 12 months on, it is Amorim who is no longer at United, and Rashford wore the No.9 in the Polish city of Wroclaw.
And it was very Michael Carrick-esque to throw Rashford on in a group of six substitutes on the hour mark to keep the occasion as low-key as possible.
That was when Amorim’s other tension Kobbie Mainoo came on too.
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Marcus Rashford was banished by former manager Ruben Amorim last season Credit: GETTY
Kobbie Mainoo fell out of favour with the Portuguese gaffer Credit: GETTY
And all while Amazon cameras filmed the occasion as part of United’s new All or Nothing documentary series.
They likely picked up Amorim chatting to the man who sacked him and United director of football Jason Wilcox in the tunnel before kick-off.
But it was Amorim who got the last laugh after coming from behind to beat his old side through goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Goncalo Ramos, Cisse and Samuel Chukwueze.
Bruno Fernandes missed his second successive penalty after the Leeds shootout, this time saved by Lorenzo Torriani.
United were ahead inside two minutes through Harry Maguire‘s header, and Patrick Dorgu made it 2-1 after half-time.
Carrick has a few weeks breathing space. While he can cite that Rashford returns to fitness following his three-week break after England’s semi-final exit at the World Cup.
Bruno Fernandes missed a second spot kick in a row in the resounding defeat to Milan Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
Defeat to the Italians has given Michael Carrick plenty of food for thought ahead of the new season Credit: EPA
Carrick admitted United “need” more signings before the transfer window closes in two weeks.
United desperately need a left-sided fullback, with 31-year-old Luke Shaw, who is entering the final year of his deal, the only first-team left back at the club.
Shaw will not be able to start every match this season, and United will need more cover for Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot as they return to the Champions League.
Shaw struggled in the blistering heat, with Chukwueze giving him the run around and he could not get across to Cisse’s tap-in.
United’s transfer activity has slowed since the £35m signing of Youri Tielemans on July 14.
There are different reasons for that, but Rashford’s future is a huge factor.
United started and ended their pre-season in defeat, with a win over Rosenborg and two draws against Paris Saint-Germain and Leeds.
Results are irrelevant in the summer, but some would say the final friendly is the most important one.
Fernandes played his first 90 minutes in over a month. And while he linked up well with Tielemans, the skipper has just a week to sharpen up.
Carrick fielded a side that will likely start the Prem opener at Hull City next Saturday, with Bryan Mbeumo through the middle perhaps the only change.
