6 days ago
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Benjamin Sesko will need to adjust to a raft of new regulations when he signs for Manchester United. The Red Devils are nearing the £74 million ($99.4M) completion for the RB Leipzig forward, despite Newcastle showing interest.
Sesko has chosen a move to Old Trafford over the Magpies and has communicated his preference to RB Leipzig's top brass. United tabled an initial bid - albeit lower than Newcastle's offer - and have struck gold.
The Slovenian international, who has touched down in Manchester, will become the No. 9 Ruben Amorim has been pursuing throughout the summer. It is a knock-on blow for Liverpool's Alexander Isak pursuit.
However, the 22-year-old could be in for a rude awakening upon his arrival in the northwest, given Amorim's swift implementation of strict rules since his appointment last November. The Portuguese manager, who took over from Erik ten Hag, has introduced several new regulations in hopes of reversing United's fortunes.
One of the first major rules the 40-year-old enforced was prohibiting his coaching staff from giving complex instructions, advocating for simplicity before information is relayed.
He also ruled out using international breaks as holiday periods, following Marcus Rashford and Casemiro's leisure trip to the United States in November after being omitted from their respective national teams.
Amorim spoke about the new protocols, saying: "We as a club have to set the standards and manage that. It's my decision if they can have five days, or three days, or three days to rest and you cannot fly. This is something that us as a club have to decide. So this must be started in the club, with us and me being responsible in that area."
In addition to setting strict rest periods, Amorim has prohibited eating in the dressing room on matchdays, highlighting his focus on the squad's physical condition. Moreover, he has introduced a rule where the losing side in training must collect the day's equipment.
After a dismal Premier League season that saw the Red Devils end up 15th, Amorim is raising the bar for the upcoming campaign. Diogo Dalot has indicated that the club might not suit everyone at the moment.
Dalot commented on Amorim's approach: "If you want to be in Manchester United, you need to match some standards. If you can't match them, it's not a place for you. The message is really clear."
Under Amorim's guidance, the team has made a positive start to their first preseason. They secured a nil-nil draw against newly-promoted Leeds United last month and then went on to participate in the Premier League Summer Series tour across the United States.
They clinched 2-1 and 4-1 victories against West Ham and Bournemouth, respectively, and managed a 2-2 draw with Everton. The team is now preparing to return to Old Trafford for a match against Fiorentina on Saturday, ahead of their Premier League opener against Arsenal on August 17.
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