Manchester United unveil Benjamin Sesko ahead of Fiorentina friendly at Old Trafford
Manchester United introduced new signing Benjamin Sesko to Old Trafford on Saturday as the club gears up for a friendly against Fiorentina. The Slovenia international has completed a move from RB Leipzig in a deal reported to be worth €85 million ($98.8 million).
Sesko spoke about his admiration for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, saying he has watched every YouTube clip of the former United striker and admires how he played and enjoyed his football. While acknowledging they do not share the same character, Sesko said it has long been his dream to meet Ibrahimovic and that he tries to emulate his approach whenever possible. He also cited Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney as players he studied and respected.
Scoring form in Germany helped convince United to push ahead with the transfer. Sesko netted 21 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions for Leipzig last season. He arrived in Manchester as part of a wave of summer arrivals, joining fellow new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as United seek a swift rebuild after a difficult previous campaign.
In candid remarks about his new club, Sesko described United as a “great project” that is getting better all the time. “Together you can grow a lot. It can give you a lot of fresh power, fresh energy and I think it’s going to be exciting in general,” he said. He added: “Just that we get better, that we connect together in general and as a team try to grow and grow together, step by step. It’s just a matter of time when we can fly high again.”
The transfer underscores Manchester United’s intent to refresh a squad that finished 15th in the Premier League last season. Managers and fans alike will be watching closely to see how Sesko adapts to the Premier League and how he links with his new teammates as the club lays groundwork for the season ahead.
What to watch next: how Sesko settles into Ten Hag’s system, his partnership potential with Cunha and Mbeumo, and whether he can translate Leipzig’s goalscoring form to United’s attacking setup.
Summary: Benjamin Sesko has arrived at Manchester United from RB Leipzig for €85m, citing Ibrahimovic as his inspiration and expressing belief in United’s rebuilding project as he eyes a bright future with new teammates.