Manchester United’s pre-season ended with another victory, as Ruben Amorim’s men beat Fiorentina on penalties.
The game ended 1-1 in normal time, then United converted all five of their spot kicks and secured the win thanks to an Altay Bayindir save.
Heaven impressive against Fiorentina
United were stretched by their Italian opponents, and despite going a goal behind in the first half bounced back through some impressive performances across the pitch.
Ayden Heaven, who started at left centre-back, built on his solid start to life at Old Trafford last season with a towering display which maintains his reputation as one of United’s hottest prospects.
As per Statman Dave the 18-year-old won 100% of the ground duels and 100% of the aerial duels he contested as he did his best impression of a brick wall against Fiorentina’s attackers. On top of that, the teenager managed four ball recoveries.
Heaven was equally impressive in possession, recording 98% overall pass accuracy and 100% accuracy with his long balls.
Ayden Heaven’s game by numbers vs. Fiorentina:
100% long pass accuracy
100% aerial duels won
100% ground duels won
98% pass accuracy
4 ball recoveriesTOP young defender. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/4KFbP48PW7
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 9, 2025
Injury concern
Heaven joined United from Arsenal as an academy prospect last year but soon forced his way into first-team contention.
With Lisandro Martinez sidelined due to a long-term injury, Heaven was drafted in to play the left centre-back role and looked accomplished there. The youngster had injury problems of his own last season, but still turned out four times in the Premier League for United.
In what could have been history repeating itself Heaven went off injured in today’s friendly against Fiorentina, which set alarm bells ringing and brought Luke Shaw off the bench.
Thankfully the youngster didn’t appear in bad shape when the Snapdragon Cup trophy was presented, with no bandaging on his leg, so he may yet be in contention to face his former club when the season kicks off next weekend.
Featured image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
