Manchester United’s CEO Omar Berrada has explained why Rúben Amorim’s men will be playing two post-season friendlies in the Far East next month.
Manchester United have announced that they will play two fixtures in the Far East following the end of the 2024/25 Premier League and Europa League campaigns.
Immediately following the final fixture of the season – a home tie against Aston Villa on 25 May, Rúben Amorim’s side will jet off to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to play against ASEAN All Stars in the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium on 28 May.
Then, the side will fly to Kong Kong, China, to face Hong Kong, China at the Hong Kong Stadium, which can hold up to 40,000 fans, on 30 May.
The club are expected to receive around £8 million in revenue from the two fixtures.
There will then be a six-week break before United commence their pre-season tour, where they will face Leeds in Stockholm, Sweden, before flying off to the USA to face West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton in the Premier League Summer Series.
Why are United playing post-season fixtures?
The simple answer is that the club need money, and an £8 million cheque for a venture that will also help increase the club’s brand and interact with their global fan-base is a no-brainer decision from a commercial perspective.
United’s CEO, Omar Berrada, did not shy away from the extra revenue it will generate but was also keen to point out that the club are also handing the fixtures to United’s fans around the world.
“We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world and this summer we are delighted to deliver a schedule that provides our fans in Asia, Scandinavia and the United States the opportunity to connect with the club and watch the men’s first team play live in local settings,” Berrada stated.
“Importantly, Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch.
“They also create unique opportunities for us to collaborate with our valued commercial partners and to deepen relationships with our fans in regions such as Asia and the US.”
Who will play in the fixtures
As mentioned above, Amorim’s squad will be flying off to the Far East as soon as the Villa fixture is over, meaning there will be many first-team players present.
However, as the games are just two days apart, it’s also expected that a host of Academy stars will also join the squad.
With the fixture being of little competitive meaning to Amorim and his squad, it’s likely that the two games will feature a wide range of players, as it often is with pre-season or post-season fixtures.
The games will also be less competitive, but it is a fantastic chance for loyal fans in Malaysia and Hong Kong to see their favourite players in person.
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