Rosenborg's New Faces Since Last Man United Friendly
For the second time in two years, Rosenborg are Manchester United's opponents in a pre-season friendly. When the sides met in July 2024, Rosenborg won 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Noah Jean Holm. The chatter after the game largely centred around promising youngster Sverre Nypan, who was linked with Man United but joined Manchester City in June 2025. The team Rosenborg fielded that afternoon will be largely different to the one that takes the pitch at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim on Friday.
Players to Watch
Leopold Wahlstedt: Rosenborg's first-choice goalkeeper had a spell in England with Blackburn in the Championship but was sold after criticism for a series of mistakes.
Simen Bolkan Nordli: A goalscoring central midfielder who earned a switch to Rosenborg last year after scoring 14 goals in 32 appearances for Randers, winning the Danish Superliga player of the season award.
Iver Fossum: Rosenborg's most recognisable player, particularly to Football Manager fans. On the 2016 edition, Fossum was touted as a future star and seen as one of Norway's greatest talents, but at 30 he hasn't hit those heights unlike Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland.
Dino Islamovic: A tall centre-forward who came through Fulham's youth academy from 2012 to 2014. This is his second spell at Rosenborg after rejoining in 2025 from Kalmar, but he is an injury doubt for the Man United game.
Ole Selnaes: Vice-captain who came through the youth system and has 32 caps for the senior Norway national team.
Amin Chiakha: The Algeria international currently on loan at Rosenborg from Copenhagen. He scored twice in a 3-0 win over IK Start last time out.
Aleksander Borgersen: Made his senior debut against Haugesund in September 2025 aged 16 years and 82 days, a record only beaten by Sverre Nypan. Widely regarded as Rosenborg's next big thing.
Tomas Nemcik: Imposing central defender who will look to keep Joshua Zirkzee and Bryan Mbeumo at bay. He is a survivor from the last Man United friendly where he was booked for a foul on Casemiro.
Adrian Pereira: Needs one more appearance for 100 league outings for Rosenborg. A regular at left-back.
Jonas Svensson: The Rosenborg captain. No player has made more appearances for the club, and he returned in January after nearly a decade away.
John Bakke: The surname should alert Premier League watchers of the 90s. Bakke is the son of Eirik, the former Leeds and Aston Villa midfielder.
Magnus Holte: In September 2022, Holte became the youngest player to feature for Rosenborg in a league fixture after coming on as a substitute against Lillestrom. He held the record for less than two months before losing it to Nypan.
