Manchester United have announced a pre-season tour of Australia and Thailand this summer.
United will take on arch rivals Liverpool in ‘The Match’ Centenary Cup on July 12th at the Rajamangala stadium in the Thai capital Bangkok. The squad will then fly to Australia for United’s first visit to Melbourne since 1999. The Red Devils play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against local A-League team Melbourne Victory on July 15th, and against Premier League rivals Crystal Palace on July 19th.
United football director John Murtough said: “Pre-season tours are such an important part of the squad’s preparation for the season ahead, so it’s crucial to have excellent training facilities and high-quality opposition. We’re delighted that we’ll have both these things during our visits to Bangkok and Melbourne this summer, and we’re looking forward to playing in front of our fans in both cities for the first time in a number of years.”
The club's Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche added: “It has been two years since the club has been able to travel on an international pre-season tour, so we can’t wait to get going this summer and reconnect with our fans in south-east Asia and Australasia.
“Our matches in Bangkok and Melbourne will be a wonderful opportunity for international fans to see their favourite players up-close in an exciting schedule of games.” The Red Devils, yet to appoint a permanent manager, have faced Liverpool in pre-season on multiple occasions before, most recently being thrashed 4-1 in the United States.
United have notably used Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba in the marketing for the tour, two players who could leave the club during the summer transfer window. The 37-year-old does have a deal at Old Trafford until June 2023, while Pogba's contract expires this June and the France international is more set to depart.
Join the debate! Will Ronaldo stay at Man Utd? Let us know your prediction below.
Ronaldo recently opened up on his long-term future in the game, declaring that he was "the boss" regarding retirement ahead of Portugal 's World Cup play-off win against North Macedonia on Tuesday. "I'm beginning to see that many of you ask the same question. Who will decide my future is me, nobody else," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner affirmed.
"If I feel like playing more games, if I don't feel like I don't play. I'm the boss, period. I live one day at a time, tomorrow only God knows. I enjoy football and I still feel useful both at the club and at the national team. I will decide when I want, not when they understand fans, family or journalists. I have always decided my life and that is what I will continue to do."
