Zlatan Ibrahimovic runs out for his first United appearance in a pre-season game in 2016

Six times a new United star made his mark on tour

Thursday 20 June 2019 15:30

With Manchester United's pre-season tour rapidly approaching, we're recalling occasions when new first-team players made an instant impact during the club's summer friendlies.

Our video below shows six Reds introducing themselves to the United fans by scoring goals in tour games, as follows:

ROMELU LUKAKU v Real Salt Lake (2017)

A clash that was anything but friendly in Utah featured United being reduced to 10 men when Antonio Valencia was sent off. Despite being depleted, the Reds came back from a goal down to earn a 2-1 victory as the Belgium international marked his first start with a goal.

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC v Galatasaray (2016)

This friendly in Gothenburg was always going to be all about one man as Zlatan prepared for his United bow in his native Sweden. Predictably, the charismatic centre-forward did not disappoint, netting an acrobatic bicycle kick during an entertaining 5-2 success.

Video
Watch our video compilation, including this acrobatic strike by Ibrahimovic.

JESSE LINGARD v A-League All-Stars (2013)

Our feature isn't just about new signings, as tours can also allow homegrown products to stake their claim for a regular first-team place. That's what Lingard did in the summer of 2013, scoring the first goal after David Moyes took charge, during a 5-1 victory in Australia. It was a dominant performance by the 20-year-old, who actually netted twice and displayed no nerves despite a crowd of 83,127.

SHINJI KAGAWA v Shanghai Shenhua (2012)

The Japan international bagged his maiden strike for the club and it proved to be the only goal of the game in China. Bebe set it up with a run down the left before the summer signing from Borussia Dortmund supplied a composed finish.

Shinji Kagawa scores against Shanghai Shenhua in the summer of 2012.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ v MLS All-Stars (2010)

Exactly a year to the day after Valencia got off the mark for the Reds, the popular Mexican came off the bench to hit the headlines on his unofficial debut, lobbing in a beautiful first goal for the club. The MLS All-Stars were beaten 5-2 in front of over 70,000 fans in Houston with Chicharito wasting no time getting up to speed after the World Cup.

Hernandez finds the net in Houston during Tour 2010.

ANTONIO VALENCIA v Boca Juniors (2009)

The Ecuadorian acquisition from Wigan Athletic showed his speed and power to find the net against the Argentinian side. The strike helped Sir Alex Ferguson's team earn a 2-1 tournament win in Munich.

TOUR 2019

All six of Manchester United’s pre-season games will be available to watch live on MUTV, including the clashes with Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan and AC Milan.

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