The last time Manchester United faced Rosenborg in Trondheim, they lost 1-0 to a stoppage-time goal and were managed by Erik ten Hag. The XI that took the field that July evening in 2024 has almost entirely dissolved. Six of those eleven have left Old Trafford. Two more are on the edge.
That's not rotation. That's reconstruction.
United return to Norway this week off the back of a pre-season loss to Wrexham — a result that already tells you plenty about where the club currently sits. Michael Carrick has inherited a squad in transition from Ruben Amorim, who himself replaced ten Hag after just 14 months. The instability in the dugout is matched by the churn in the dressing room.
Who's gone, who's left, and who's going
In goal that day was Radek Vitek, the only member of the back five still technically on the books — though he made clear after the Wrexham match that his future is unresolved. "At the moment, I am still here, but we will see," he said. A goalkeeper actively hoping for "interest" from elsewhere is not a goalkeeper planning to stay.
In front of him, it's a clean sweep of exits. Aaron Wan-Bissaka moved to West Ham and got relegated. Will Fish landed at Cardiff, who've come up to the Championship. Jonny Evans retired and moved into coaching at the club. Sam Murray signed for Carlisle last year and is now searching for a new deal again.
In midfield, Mason Mount is the lone survivor — and even he spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch last season, which cost him a World Cup spot. Casemiro left when his contract expired and is now at Inter Miami. Hannibal joined Burnley permanently in August 2024 and watched them get relegated from the Championship last term.
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka — West Ham (relegated from PL)
- Will Fish — Cardiff City (promoted to Championship)
- Jonny Evans — Retired, now United coach
- Sam Murray — Left Carlisle, currently a free agent
- Casemiro — Inter Miami
- Hannibal — Burnley (relegated from Championship)
Rashford's return — but for how long?
Up front, the two academy players from that night — Ethan Williams and Ethan Wheatley — are still around and still developing. The third member of that attack is the question that actually matters this summer.
Marcus Rashford is back at Old Trafford after Barcelona declined to trigger their purchase option following his loan spell. He's 28, he was good enough to attract a Camp Nou move, and he's now sitting in limbo while Carrick figures out whether he fits the new setup. Reported interest persists, but nothing concrete has landed.
That decision — keep Rashford or move him on — is one of the most consequential Carrick will make this window. The forward's market value doesn't stay static, and with a season of Amorim's tactics having already passed, it's not clear Rashford is the profile the new regime is building around. Pre-season will tell Carrick something. Whether he likes the answer is another matter entirely.
