Manchester United get £132m transfer boost as Erik ten Hag drops Casemiro future hint

A closer look at the overnight pre-season friendly in Los Angeles as Man Utd were beaten 2-1 by Premier League rivals Arsenal before winning a penalty shootout at the SoFi Stadium.

Manchester United finally got their United States tour underway against Premier League rivals Arsenal overnight. An opener from Rasmus Hojlund was cancelled out by Gabriel Jesus before Gabriel Martinelli settled the scores at the SoFi Stadium, in Los Angeles, to consign United to a 2-1 defeat.

The game still went to a penalty shootout to wow their American audience. United won them 4-3.

It was by no means all thrills and spills for United as they were also handed a double injury scare. Hojlund - shortly after scoring his goal - and Leny Yoro were withdrawn in the opening 45 minutes.

An update will be provided by the club in due course, but they were both able to walk off the pitch unaided. Here, we take a look at four moments you might have missed;

ALSO READ: Highlights and reaction from Arsenal friendly

ALSO READ: United handed double injury scare vs Arsenal

Ten Hag drops hint on Casemiro

Casemiro faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford. The former Real Madrid powerhouse declined sharply last term, while United are in the market for another holding midfielder this summer amid ongoing whispers Casemiro, might, be on his way with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia mooted.

The club must also keep their powder dry with Casemiro in the scenario he does stay put. Giving him the armband in California was one way to do that and an easy win for Erik ten Hag.

A transfer hint from the manager?

Hojlund justifies No.9 shirt change

Hojlund shouldered a whole lot of pressure and responsibility during his first 12 months as a United player. Despite flirting with a move for Harry Kane before he signed for Bayern Munich instead, it was Hojlund who was brought in to effectively replace Cristiano Ronaldo in attacking quarters.

He plugged away with next to no support - which has finally arrived in summer recruit Joshua Zirkzee - but United always maintained they paid £72million for the striker Hojlund can become and not the one he was upon arriving. It was a tag he justified inside 15 blistering minutes in Los Angeles.

His goal was particularly indicative of what Hojlund offers; brute strength, pace and precision with the finish. It was just a shame he had to be withdrawn so early due to an injury scare, but there was little concern in the dugout, and it was a measure made purely for precaution.

Fingers crossed Hojlund's okay, because it was a proper No.9 finish from the club's new No.9.

Mount trending for right reasons

Mason Mount needs to perform this season. Owing to fitness and form concerns, the ex-Chelsea man was unable to start repaying his eye-catching £60million price tag - or trust in wearing United's famous No.7 shirt - but a slight glimpse on social media was enough to pinpoint the encouragement from California.

An energetic 45 minute showing had supporters feeling upbeat, and Mount was trending for all the right reasons.

Onana plays showman in shootout

Andre Onana needs no encouragement to step up as showman. The bizarrely arranged penalty shootout allowed the Cameroon goalkeeper to do exactly that and he tried every trick in the book to put Arsenal's players off in the 12-yard duel. It worked, too, as he saved from Kai Havertz.

He went full-scale Emi Martinez from the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar and it provided some amusement as even Arsenal player Fabio Vieira saw the funny side before his spot kick. Onana went one way, Vieira kicked the other as they then shared a laugh as the two locked eyes in the aftermath.

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