Man Utd plan Wrexham friendly in country Red Devils have not visited for 60 years

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Manchester United look set to play in Finland for the first time in 60 years in a money-spinning friendly with Wrexham . Red Devils chiefs are currently putting together plans for the club’s pre-season schedule ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

And within that, United are set to take on Championship side Wrexham, who are backed by Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac. The game will represent a money-spinning opportunity for both clubs, while it is also set to make history for the Premier League side.

According to the Daily Mail , the match is expected to be held in Finland. United have not played a game in the Scandinavian nation since the 1965/66 season when they took on HJK Helsinki in the European Cup.

Then managed by Sir Matt Busby, United secured a 3-2 victory. Away from the Wrexham game, another pre-season friendly is expected to be staged in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The clash with the Welsh side will represent the second showdown between the two clubs in three years, having previously met in 2023. The game ended in a 3-1 win for Wrexham , albeit boss Phil Parkinson was left furious after a challenge from United’s Nathan Bishop left Paul Mullin with a punctured lung.

He said: “I’m fuming about it, I’ve got to be honest with you. It was a clumsy, reckless challenge in a pre-season game and I’m not happy with it at all. I haven’t seen the goalie and he’s probably best steering clear of us for the time being because we’re not very happy.

“It’s a clumsy challenge from the goalkeeper, I’m disappointed with that. It should have been a straight red. If it’s not denying a goalscoring opportunity it’s still a dangerous challenge so if you add the two scenarios together he should have been off the pitch.”

“It’s a dangerous challenge and obviously Paul Mullin is our talisman,” Parkinson added. “The way the lads responded after that I thought was outstanding. That’s what we’re all about as a group – resilience, sticking together. And that’s what we showed.”

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Wrexham have enjoyed a meteoric rise up through the English football pyramid since their last clash with United. Fresh off the back of promotion from the National League in 2023, the Welsh side now find themselves in the Championship.

They have enjoyed a positive start to life back in the second tier, with 28 points from their opening 21 league games leaving them in 15th ahead of this weekend’s clash with Welsh rivals Swansea City .

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