Manchester United have taken Matthijs de Ligt to their pre-season camp in Dublin even though he is still recovering from back surgery. He is not expected to be match fit until the opening weeks of the new Premier League campaign. Manchester United also confirmed that Leeds are the opponents for the Ireland trip, with [Manuel Ugarte] still the only first-team player absent.
The Dublin camp and De Ligt's recovery
United said the five-day camp at Carton House in County Kildare is their major pre-season excursion, with team-building activities arranged as part of it. That is why De Ligt has been included despite the fact that he is not ready to play yet. The club statement also makes clear that the squad is there for more than training alone.
There is a simple football reason for the decision. Keeping De Ligt around the group gives United more time with a player they expect to reintegrate later in the opening stretch of the league season. It also leaves Lisandro Martínez and the rest of the squad working through the camp with a near-complete group, which is the point of taking almost everyone to Ireland.
United's squad picture in Ireland
The other useful detail is that Manuel Ugarte is the sole first-team squad member missing. His absence is linked to recovery from surgery on a significant knee injury, so United are not dealing with a wider camp shortage. The squad update points to a group that is largely together before the season starts, and the club's recent form, a five-match run of three wins, one draw and one defeat, gives that camp a more settled backdrop.
United finished the 2025 Premier League season in third place with 71 points, so this is not a rescue mission in the middle of a mess. It is pre-season work for a team that has reasons to keep its squad together early, and De Ligt's presence fits that approach. The next stage is the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign, when his recovery timetable will be judged against whether he is ready to return on schedule.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
