Manchester United will travel to Asia to play two matches in May after the end of the Premier League season.
The club announced on Tuesday that it will embark on its first-ever post-season tour, taking on ASEAN All Stars at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 28, three days after United’s final league fixture of the season against Aston Villa. They will then play Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Stadium on May 30.
The Athletic reported in December that United were planning a post-season trip to Asia that could see the club earn $10million (£7.96m, €9.6m) in revenue.
United have pursued an aggressive strategy of cost-cutting under the minority ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has cut jobs from the club, as well as raising ticket prices at Old Trafford, clamping down on staff expenses and cancelling the annual staff Christmas party.
United’s Chief Executive Officer Omar Berrada said in the announcement of the fixtures that the tour would help the club increase revenue.
“Importantly, Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch,” he said. “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.”
Clubs regularly travel abroad for pre-season — United will play in the United States and Sweden this summer — but post-season tours are a newer trend.
In 2024, three days after the end of the Premier League campaign, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United travelled to Australia for a friendly match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia over 10,000 miles from home.
United are 13th in the league with seven games to go. Ruben Amorim’s side remain in the Europa League and visit Lyon in a quarter-final first leg on Thursday. If they reach the final of the competition, which is set to take place on May 21, United would play four matches in the space of nine days.
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