Five reasons we can't wait for Saturday

Kick-off in M16 is set for 12:45 BST, with the winner of the contest claiming the Snapdragon Cup.

Here are five reasons why our meeting with La Viola is not to be missed…

AN UNCOMMON OPPONENT

Our summer adversaries, so far, have all been familiar and we’ll come up against each of Leeds United, West Ham United, Bournemouth and Everton on at least another two occasions between now and May.

The same cannot be said for Fiorentina. A quarter of a century has passed since the Serie A outfit were drawn in our UEFA Champions League group during the 1999/2000 season, and a lot has changed since then for both clubs.

United were reigning European champions when we were beaten 2-0 in Tuscany, a result we avenged later in the campaign with a 3-1 victory back at Old Trafford.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, actually ceased to exist within a couple of years of those contests, being re-established in the fourth tier following financial trouble.

They made a swift return to Serie A in 2004 and have performed solidly in most seasons since, without ever quite threatening to become the force they were in the late 1990s, when the likes of Gabriel Batistuta and Manuel Rui Costa pulled on the iconic and eye-catching purple shirt.

DE GEA RETURNS

La Viola finished sixth last term – their highest final Serie A placing in nine years. A big reason behind their strong showing under Raffaele Palladino was the form of goalkeeper David De Gea, who kept 11 clean sheets across 35 top-flight games, after making his comeback following a season away from professional football.

De Gea, of course, is a legend in these parts, making 545 appearances between 2011 and 2023 and winning each of the major domestic trophies, plus the UEFA Europa League.

The Spaniard left following the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, so this will provide him with the chance to say farewell to the Old Trafford faithful.

A FIRST SIGHT OF NEW FACES

Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Bryan Mbeumo all joined over the summer and each player has caught the eye during pre-season so far.

A first opportunity to pull on the red jersey and walk out of the tunnel at the Theatre of Dreams provides a lasting memory to cherish and it's something Cunha specifically has spent much of his life dreaming about.

As he told us back in June: "When I play with [my cousin] in the street, on the beach, on the gravel pitch, we called these pitches 'Old Trafford.' Imagine.”

INSIGHT INTO RUBEN’S PLANS

As the only game standing between us and the start of the top-flight season, the Fiorentina fixture could have a major impact on Ruben Amorim’s plans.

While the boss left America convinced his side are in a better position now, with momentum behind us, he will still want to see a high-intensity showing and his players putting into practice everything that has been worked on over the past month.

Saturday could also help shape who starts the match against Arsenal, eight days later.

As it stands, there is plenty of competition for places in the XI, and a positive performance will have supporters counting down the seconds until the visit of Mikel Arteta's men.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE

We can't wait, and there's still time for you to get involved. Kick-off is 12:45 BST on Saturday at Old Trafford, timed perfectly for a lunchtime weekend outing for the whole family.

Tickets start at £30 for adults and £15 for under-16s, with a £5 discount on offer for Executive Club Members, Season Ticket holders and Official Members.

With over 50,000 already heading to Old Trafford for the occasion, get your tickets now to avoid disappointment!