HELSINKI, FINLAND – JULY 17: (EXCLUSIVE) Manchester United’s Radek Vitek arrives in Helsinki ahead of the pre-season friendly against Wrexham on July 17, 2026 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Ash Donnellon/Manchester United via Getty Images) (Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United, via Getty Images)
Radek Vitek is determined to leave Manchester United this summer and hopes to leave Old Trafford permanently if the club secures a suitable bid. The 22-year-old played the full game in the second half of Saturday’s pre-season friendly defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki. However, the goalkeeper has since revealed that he has no intention of staying on as Senne Lamence’s replacement next season as he wants to play regularly.
Vitek has spent the past two-and-a-half campaigns on loan and is hoping to secure regular first-team football for the new season after impressing with Championship side Bristol City last season. That opportunity never materialized at United, with Lamence now firmly established as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. As a result, amid growing interest in the Czech national team player, Vitek confirmed his intention to move during this transfer window.
“I feel great and I’m ready to go somewhere else again, hopefully to be number one, so we’ll see,” Vitek said after the 1-0 defeat to Wrexham, in which Sam Smith scored the only goal of the game in the first half.
“At the moment I’m still here, but we’ll see. I hope so. I hope there’s some interest. I guess we’ll see when things become more concrete.”
Asked whether he would prefer to go on loan from United or leave permanently, Vitek said: “To be fair, I’m ready for both. It depends on what the club wants, it depends on the options. We’ll see.”
“There are several interests on the table. But we want to get the best one and we hope that happens soon.”
United are considering selling the young shot-stopper, who dominated Bristol City’s Player of the Year award last season, and Lamence is thought to be unlikely to replace him.
With Andre Onana already set to return on loan to Trabzonspor and Altay Vaindir also set to leave, Old Trafford could be looking for a new No. 2 goalkeeper this summer.
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Radek Vitek played the second half of Manchester United vs Wrexham (Image: Getty Images)
However, Vitek has made it clear that he has no intention of taking on that role. United then acquired experienced keeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer. Vitek said last season that his stance remains unchanged, believing that regular first-team football remains important.
“My heart is still the same,” he said. “I want to play. I want to play every week. That’s my goal for next season. I think we’ll see where that ends up soon.”
“I think I’ve grown in the last two-and-a-half years with some loans. I’ve grown as a person and on the pitch.”
Vitek worked with Carrington ahead of this summer’s move and is once again benefiting from the wisdom of 40-year-old Tom Heaton and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson to further his progress.
“I’ve been working here with Craig for almost six years,” he said. “And obviously with Tom, I’ve been with them for quite some time. They’ve been very important. Also, this preseason, that’s going to help me a lot. I’m going to be able to work with them and hopefully prepare as best as I can.”
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