'They are our players' - Ruben Amorim opens door for return of 'bomb squad' trio of Antony, Jadon Sancho & Alejandro Garnacho despite banishment from Man Utd's pre-season tour

Amorim, Antony, Garnacho

Ruben Amorim has opened the door for banished trio Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho to return if Manchester United can't sell them.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The United trio have not been included in the club's pre-season tour to the United States and were training separately away from the first-team group as part of the 'bomb squad'. While the club are looking to sell all three of them for the right price, head coach Amorim has not ruled out reintegrating them back into the squad when the transfer window shuts on September 1.

Manchester United v Leeds United - Pre-Season Friendly

WHAT AMORIM SAID

He said: "Some players have to find a new place to have more space in the team, and other players clearly show they want a new challenge and want new teams. We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide. If we reach a point where they have to join the team, they will join the team, because they are our players. I know for a fact, these people, Omar, Jason, and the club, have a number for these players. If they don’t reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that. I understand that clubs are waiting for the last minute, but they can have a surprise. I’m ready to receive the players; they have more competition, more competition. If you want to play in the World Cup next year, you need to play. So I'm really happy with that because I have more options. If they have to fight each other to play, for me, it’s perfect. In any team, if you see the best teams in the world, you feel the bond between all the players, and that is really important. Then I think we need to remind ourselves how special it is to be at Manchester United. That is my feeling, it’s the best club in the world, and it should be for everyone on the pitch and everyone at the club, and I really like that feeling. I really like to be in a group that is healthy."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

United are desperately trying to raise funds from the sales of Antony, Sancho, and Garnacho - along with Tyrell Malacia - but for now, they remain Red Devils players. If they do stay, Amorim has stressed the importance of having a "healthy" squad that want to play for the club. That may be a tall order with this group, however.

Rubem Amorim Manchester United 2025

WHAT NEXT?

While Antony, Garnacho, Sancho, and Malacia continue their pre-season preparations away from United's squad, the first-team group are about to play in the Premier League Summer Series against West Ham, Everton, and Bournemouth over the next week or so.