Man United squad fly straight to Malaysia for £8m post-season tour just HOURS after beating Aston Villa to end their worst-ever Premier League term
The squad flew out to Malaysia just hours after salvaging some pride from their worst Premier League season ever by beating Aston Villa 2-0 on Sunday.
Mail Sport understands that the club is being paid around £8million for the trip, which will see them play in Kuala Lumpur, Malysia, then in Hong Kong.
United's money-hungry higher-ups will be happy to see the windfall in revenue after missing out on £85m following their Europa League agony against Tottenham.
To kick off their tour, United will face ASEAN All Stars in the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.
On May 30, they will conclude the jaunt with a clash against Hong Kong in the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium.
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Man United flew out to Malaysia for their post-season tour just hours after playing Aston Villa
However, that match would clash with the date for the local FA Cup final at the Mong Kok Stadium.
ProEvents are behind the tour, which is presented by Snapdragon - United's kit sponsor.
United are obliged to release their players for international duty on May 31, with the Nationas League and World Cup qualifiers set to be played in early June.
Bruno Fernandes' Portugal, for example, have a Nations League semi-final showdown with Germany on June 4.
Players and managers have criticised the surge in post-season tours - Gareth Southgate and Kieran Trippier being two notable names that have spoken out against the new phenomenon.
The focal point of their complaints is that these extra games at the end of the season add an unnecessary physical burden on players after an already fixture-packed campaign.
But the counter-argument from fans is that many would seldom have the opportunity to watch their favourite team in person if the club did not hold these tours.
Indeed, United wrote in a statement: 'The club last visited Kuala Lumpur in 2009, and Hong Kong in 2013, but the bond between United and the club's millions of loyal fans across Asia remains as strong as ever.
'The fixtures in May provide a unique opportunity for the players and staff to connect directly with fans in Asia, and for the club to activate with its valued commercial partners in the region.'
Of course, United will appreciate the revenue that this post-season tour will bring them, as they fight to avoid Premier League Profit and Sustainability rule breaches.
Chief executive Omar Berrada said: '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.
'Importantly, Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch.
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