Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has hinted that summer signing Benjamin Sesko will start on the bench in Sunday’s Premier League opener with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
But the Portuguese boss believes Sesko, who moved to the red side of Manchester in a £74million deal this summer, has a long future ahead of him with United.
At 6ft 4ins and just 22 years old, Sesko will add some much-needed pace and physicality to the Red Devils’ forward line.
Playmaker Matheus Cunha and forward Bryan Mbeumo have also been recruited from Wolves and Brentford respectively.
Going for goals
Sesko scored 27 goals in 47 league appearances for RB Leipzig – and comes into a team who only managed to score 44 goals in 38 Premier League matches last season.
United finished down in 15th place on 42 points, with a goal difference of minus 10, and will be playing hosts to Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in a 4.30pm kick-off on Sunday.
Arsenal finished as runners-up to champions Liverpool last season, and have also spent big this summer – so will be confident of putting in a good show at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Great potential
But Amorim feels United have a striker with ‘great potential’ in Sesko – and is confident he will adapt quickly to the ‘aggressive’ nature of England’s top flight.
The Man Utd boss told a press conference: “He has great potential in everything he does. He can play a different type of football. He is going to feel that the Premier League is aggressive. He is going to learn.
“But Ben can be a striker for United for a lot of years, that’s why we paid so much money to have a striker who will have his history in our club.
“He’s one guy who stays here, has lunch, and goes to the medical department, does the stretching.
Obsessed about football
“He is always thinking about football. He’s really obsessed about that and that is a good thing because you don’t have to think about that aspect with that young guy.
“I don’t need to tell Ben, ‘Ben, this is Manchester United, a lot of pressure, you have to perform, you need to be ready for the physicality, we need to be ready, every game is like do or die’.
“I really like that [he asks questions], especially when it is smart questions so he’s listened and he wants to perform so that is very good.”
Always thinking
Amorim admits Sesko may not start the game due to the lack of time he has had to train with his new team-mates, adding on Sky Sports: “He hasn’t had a lot of time, [but] physically he’s ready.
“He’s really smart, a guy who’s always thinking. He is ready to play but we’ll see if he’s going to start.”
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