Manchester United will embark on a short tour of Asia immediately following the conclusion of the Premier League season next month. The Red Devils are scheduled to play an ASEAN All Stars team in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 before facing Hong Kong two days later.
The team will depart for Asia directly after their final league match against Aston Villa on May 25. This swift turnaround is expected to generate approximately $10 million (£7.8 million)( KSh 1.2B) for the club. Following these matches, United’s international players will join their respective national teams for upcoming fixtures.
Manchester United boasts a substantial fan base in Malaysia, and Malaysia Airlines is the club’s official commercial airline partner. The club last played in Malaysia in 2009 and visited Hong Kong in 2013. The tour aims to strengthen ties with fans in the region and leverage existing commercial partnerships.
This post-season tour has reignited concerns regarding the increasing workload on elite footballers. The decision to schedule these matches immediately after the Premier League season has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of ongoing discussions about player fatigue and the congested football calendar.
Last season, a similar post-season friendly between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in Australia was criticized by BBC pundit Alan Shearer, who described it as “madness.”
Football governing bodies have been grappling with the issue of fixture congestion, with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and UEFA’s enlarged Champions League format adding to the pressure. In response, FA Cup replays have been scrapped to alleviate some of the strain on players.
Looking ahead, Manchester United is also slated to travel to the United States as part of the Premier League’s pre-season tournament, scheduled between July 26 and August 3. These extensive travel commitments highlight the financial demands on top clubs, often placing them at odds with player welfare considerations.
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