AC Milan produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Manchester United 4-2 in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday, handing former Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim a memorable victory over his old club.

The encounter, played at the Tarczyński Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, had been eagerly anticipated because of Amorim’s return to face the club he managed before his January 2026 departure.

The Portuguese coach ultimately had the last laugh as Milan overturned two separate deficits before running away with the game.

The result also gave Amorim his first victory as AC Milan manager, having endured a difficult start to life in Italy during the pre-season campaign. Blueprint reports

Maguire gives United perfect start

Manchester United made a blistering start when captain Harry Maguire opened the scoring just two minutes into the encounter.

Maguire rose highest to meet Bruno Fernandes’ corner and headed the ball beyond the Milan goalkeeper, giving United an early advantage and raising hopes that Michael Carrick’s side would end their preparations for the new campaign on a positive note.

Milan, however, gradually settled into the game and began causing problems for the United defence.

Their pressure eventually paid off in the 37th minute when Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze levelled the score.

Goncalo Ramos played a smart pass into Chukwueze’s path, with the winger finishing at the far post to make it 1-1.

The equaliser exposed some of the defensive weaknesses that would eventually cost United the match.

Dorgu restores United’s lead

United regained the advantage shortly after the interval.

Patrick Dorgu capitalised on a poor Milan throw-in in the 51st minute, smashing the ball home from close range to put the English side 2-1 ahead.

At that point, United appeared capable of holding on for victory, but Milan responded almost immediately.

Five minutes after Dorgu’s goal, Alphadjo Cisse restored parity for Amorim’s team, tapping home a cross from Chukwueze.

The goal shifted the momentum decisively in Milan’s favour.

Milan run riot

Milan completed their turnaround in the 68th minute when Goncalo Ramos headed Chukwueze’s cross beyond the United goalkeeper to make it 3-2.

Just three minutes later, Ruben Loftus-Cheek added a fourth.

The midfielder was allowed to break into the United penalty area before finding the back of the net, completing a remarkable spell in which Milan scored three goals in 14 minutes.

United were unable to find a response as Milan comfortably saw out the remainder of the match.

The statistics reflected Milan’s superiority after the opening exchanges. The Serie A side enjoyed 61 per cent possession compared with United’s 39 per cent and recorded 13 shots to United’s 10, including nine efforts on target against six.

Chukwueze shines against former Premier League giants

Chukwueze was arguably Milan’s standout performer.

The Nigerian international scored one goal and provided two assists, proving a constant threat from the right side as United struggled to contain Milan’s attacking movement.

His involvement in three of Milan’s four goals made him a decisive figure in the victory and provided an encouraging sign for Amorim ahead of the new Serie A season.

The performance is particularly significant for Chukwueze as he continues to fight for a prominent role at Milan under the new Portuguese manager.

Amorim gets the bragging rights

Beyond the scoreline, the match carried considerable emotional significance for Amorim.

The 41-year-old was appointed Manchester United manager in November 2024 after his successful spell with Sporting Lisbon but left the Old Trafford job in January 2026 following a difficult period in charge.

He subsequently took over at Milan, meaning Saturday’s friendly provided his first opportunity to face the club he had previously managed.

Amorim’s United tenure ended with considerable criticism, but he now has an early bragging right over his former employers after masterminding Milan’s comeback victory.

Milan also appeared comfortable operating in Amorim’s preferred 3-4-1-2 formation, an indication that the Portuguese coach is beginning to impose his tactical ideas on his new squad.

Rashford makes United return

The match also marked Marcus Rashford’s return to the Manchester United team.

Rashford came on as a substitute and wore the number nine shirt, making his first appearance for the club after a lengthy absence.

His return attracted considerable attention because Rashford had previously fallen out of favour under Amorim during the Portuguese coach’s time at Old Trafford.

Rashford spent time away from United, including a loan spell at Aston Villa and a season with Barcelona, before returning to the United squad under Carrick.

Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez also received their first pre-season minutes, giving Carrick some positives despite the heavy defeat.

United head into season with questions

The defeat brings Manchester United’s pre-season preparations to an end, with the club now turning attention to the Premier League campaign.

United will begin their league season against Hull City on August 22, while Milan’s Serie A campaign starts the following day against Torino.

For Carrick, the 4-2 defeat will raise concerns over United’s defensive organisation, particularly after Milan repeatedly exploited spaces in the second half.

For Amorim, however, the victory could hardly have come at a better time.

After a difficult beginning at Milan, beating his former club in emphatic fashion gives him his first win in charge and an immediate boost ahead of the competitive season.