1 week Ago By Alex Turk,Jeremy Cross
Manchester United's most high-profile players, including Bruno Fernandes , Harry Maguire , and Casemiro , will all embark on the club's controversial post-season tour of the Far East. The Red Devils have announced a two-game tour in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong , which will take place just days after the Premier League season concludes. The team will rack up nearly 7,000 miles on this lucrative trip, expected to net the club around £8million.
According to the Daily Star , despite the demanding schedule, none of United's stars will be spared from the journey, as they are contractually required to participate in the tour. Sponsors are particularly keen to see Ruben Amorim 's marquee players feature in both matches. Fernandes is slated to represent Portugal in a Nations League semi-final against Germany less than a week after United's second game in Hong Kong.
However, the 30-year-old captain will be at the top of sponsors' wishlists in terms of players they want to see in action at the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium and the Hong Kong Stadium, which holds 40,000 fans. Marcus Rashford will not be part of the Far East tour due to his loan agreement with Aston Villa, which extends until the end of June. Amorim's squad is scheduled to depart the UK immediately following their season finale against Villa at Old Trafford.
The tour kicks off with a match against the ASEAN All Stars in Malaysia on May 28, followed by a clash with Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Stadium two days later. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe may face criticism for prioritising financial gain over player welfare. Nonetheless, chief executive Omar Berrada has defended the decision, highlighting the desire to acknowledge the vast fanbase United boasts in the Far East.
Berrada stated: "We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world. "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." "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." In the meantime, United are gearing up for a Europa League quarter-final clash against Lyon in France on Thursday night. This article was first published on the Daily Star.
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