Rathbone reflects on United academy roots ahead of Wrexham friendly

Wrexham midfielder Ollie Rathbone has described the upcoming pre-season friendly against former club Manchester United as a "humbling experience" ahead of the fixture at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday. The 29-year-old, who spent eight years in the United academy before being released in 2016, has spoken of his enduring appreciation for the professional foundation the club provided during his formative years.

Rathbone, who joined Wrexham in the summer of 2024, noted that while headline names such as Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay dominate the narrative, the academy’s broader contribution to the league is equally significant. He emphasised that the institution takes pride in the hundreds of players who have established careers in professional football, stating he is "forever grateful" for the support received during his time at Old Trafford.

The midfielder’s career path saw him move to Rochdale following his release from United, where he spent five seasons before joining Rotherham United in 2021. At Rotherham, he helped secure promotion to the Championship in his first season, a trajectory that led to his current role as a key figure in Phil Parkinson’s side. Rathbone described the upcoming match as a privilege that will raise the intensity of Wrexham’s preparations, noting that playing against one of the world’s best clubs prevents the team from coasting through pre-season.

Rathbone’s return to full fitness has been a central focus for the club. He sustained a serious ankle injury in a pre-season game against Sydney FC in July 2025, which kept him out of the first 20 league games of the previous season. After describing the injury as a "nightmare," he returned to action in December, scoring a late equaliser against Watford and helping Wrexham finish the campaign with form that he described as "promotion form" as they narrowly missed the play-offs.

Wrexham’s pre-season schedule continues with a tour of the United States next week, where they are set to face Leeds United, Liverpool, and Sunderland. The Helsinki fixture serves as a final preparatory step before the second half of the tour, with Rathbone expressing confidence that the team is ready to build on the momentum established in the latter stages of the previous Championship campaign.