Wayne Rooney backs Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian to excite Old Trafford as Manchester United captain trains with his new team-mates

Wayne Rooney is predicting an exciting season ahead for Manchester United after seeing Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian settling in with their new team-mates in Seattle.

All four signings are taking part in the club's pre-season tour of the United States, and captain Rooney has been getting to know the new arrivals as their preparations for the next Barclays Premier League campaign take shape.

Louis van Gaal spent £77million on the Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Depay and Darmian, and could hand them their debut on Saturday when their pre-season schedule begins with a friendly against Mexican side Club America. 

Louis van Gaal poses with Morgan Schneiderlin (left), Bastian Schweinsteiger (second from right) and Matteo Darmian (right)

Louis van Gaal poses with Morgan Schneiderlin (left), Bastian Schweinsteiger (second from right) and Matteo Darmian (right)

Schweinsteiger outlined his desire to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford after being unveiled as a Manchester United player

The players were unveiled at a press conference in Seattle on Wednesday night following their pre-season training session 

Van Gaal pictured during the press conference as he spoke about his new signings and how Victor Valdes would be let go
Van Gaal gave an interesting press conference in Seattle on Wednesday night

Van Gaal pictured during the press conference as he spoke about his new signings and how Victor Valdes would be let go

Wayne Rooney runs with the ball as Manchester United's pre-season tour of the US begins to take shape in Seattle

Wayne Rooney runs with the ball as Manchester United's pre-season tour of the US begins to take shape in Seattle

Rooney is predicting an exciting season ahead for Manchester United as the captain gets to know his new team-mates
Rooney pictured during their latest training session in Seattle

Rooney is predicting an exciting season ahead for Manchester United as the captain gets to know his new team-mates

Memphis Depay was among the new arrivals taking part in training as Louis van Gaal put his signings through their paces

Memphis Depay was among the new arrivals taking part in training as Louis van Gaal put his signings through their paces

Depay is one of four new signings taking part in the club's pre-season tour of the US and could make his debut on Saturday

Depay is one of four new signings taking part in the club's pre-season tour of the US and could make his debut on Saturday

Schneiderlin signed for Manchester United from Southampton and immediately joined the club on their US tour

Morgan Schneiderlin signed for Manchester United from Southampton and immediately joined the club on their US tour

Schneiderlin runs with the ball as fellow new signing Depay looks on during Manchester United's training session across the pond
Darmian has been getting to know his new team-mates

Schneiderlin (left), Depay (second from left) and Matteo Darmian (right) have all been getting to know their new team-mates

Manchester United assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg (left) hands out instructions as new signing Darmian (right) looks on

Manchester United assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg (left) hands out instructions as new signing Darmian (right) looks on

Manchester United face Club America on Saturday and there could be up to four debutants taking part in the pre-season friendly

Manchester United face Club America on Saturday and there could be up to four debutants taking part in the pre-season friendly

United finished fourth behind Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal last year, securing their return to the Champions League for the season ahead, and Rooney wants to see how his new team-mates gel during their preparations across the pond.

'Bastian is a very experienced player who has won everything in the game and it's great that he has chosen to join us and left a team like Bayern Munich to come here,' Rooney told MUTV.

'And Morgan as well – it's great to see Bastian, him, Matteo and Memphis all come in and give the squad a boost. It's exciting times and I'm sure, over the next week or two, it'll be great for us to get some training sessions in and get to know each other's games.

'Bastian speaks very good English so that's a boost for the squad, too,' Rooney continued. 'He's a fantastic player, he's shown that over the years and it's great that we've got him and I'm sure he'll be a good player for us.

'We had the day we first flew out when we first met Bastian and Morgan and they've settled in as well as they can do in a couple of days. It's great to have them with us.' 

Jesse Lingard added the new additions bring healthy competition with them as it will make others try harder to force their way into Van Gaal's squad.

'It is definitely different from the few times I have been on tour,' the 22-year-old midfielder said. 'It is a strong squad with Schweinsteiger coming in. There is always going to be competition. You see the likes of Schweinsteiger and Schneirderlin coming in and it makes you more hungry.

'Memphis has got that bubbly character about him and Darmian has been hanging out with the foreign players.'

Tyler Blackett (left) and Jesse Lingard (right) travelled to the US with Manchester United as they prepare for the new season

Tyler Blackett (left) and Jesse Lingard (right) travelled to the US with Manchester United as they prepare for the new season

Juan Mata will look to help Manchester United push for the Premier League title next season alongside Van Gaal's new signings

Juan Mata will look to help Manchester United push for the Premier League title next season alongside Van Gaal's new signings

Ashley Young will hope the new arrivals do not push him out of Van Gaal's team as he tries to impress during pre-season training
Young controls the ball during the training session

Ashley Young will hope the new arrivals do not push him out of Van Gaal's team as he tries to impress during pre-season training

Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini pose during the session as the Manchester United squad seemed in good spirits

Adnan Januzaj and Marouane Fellaini pose during the session as the Manchester United squad seemed in good spirits

Van Gaal pictured during Manchester United's training session in Seattle on Wednesday as he gets to know his new players

Van Gaal pictured during Manchester United's training session in Seattle on Wednesday as he gets to know his new players

MAN UTD PRE-SEASON FIXTURES 

July 18 - Club America (KO 4am)

July 22 - San Jose Earthquakes (KO 4am)

July 25 - Barcelona (KO 9pm)

July 30 - Paris Saint-Germain (KO 2am) 

Phil Jones, meanwhile, has warned his new team-mates that pre-season is all about 'hard work and graft', and that it can define whether sides head into the new campaign on the front or back foot.

The England defender told the club's official website: 'I think you want to come off the back of pre-season knowing that you feel fit because we know how quick the pace of the Premier League is and the quicker we get up to that level, the better.

'You get a good momentum from pre-season, especially if you have a strong one with a few games under your belt and all the training that has gone with it. It stands you in great stead for the season.'

Jones, though, may be able to offer advice to Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Depay and Darmian after being asked to recall when he had to meet his new team-mates following his move to United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011.

'I remember when all the lads were walking in on my first day, I was in awe and in shock!' Jones added. 'I didn’t know whether to shake hands, sit down, stand up - but they all made me feel welcome and it’s a great way to meet your new team-mates. It helps create a good bond from the start.'

Luke Shaw (left) is another whose place in the team could be in jeopardy if the new arrivals push him further out of contention

Luke Shaw (left) is another whose place in the team could be in jeopardy if the new arrivals push him further out of contention

Shaw has been getting put through his paces and trying to impress his manager early during their pre-season tour

Shaw has been getting put through his paces and trying to impress his manager early during their pre-season tour

Manchester United begin their pre-season schedule with a friendly against Club America on Saturday

Manchester United begin their pre-season schedule with a friendly against Club America on Saturday

 

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