Summary:
- Manchester United will have to postpone their regular holiday plans at the end of the season.
- Ruben Amorim’s side will embark on a two-game tour in Asia, driving “significant additional revenue” to its transfer budget.
- United will play in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 and Hong Kong on May 30.
As soon as the final Premier League whistle will be heard on May 25 at the Old Trafford, Manchester United will head over to Asia for a very brief but particularly lucrative post-season tour.
What’s so controversial about this tour? First of all, the fact that it comes in such a short timespan after the end of the Premier League season.
Secondly, speculation regarding the reasons behind it, as the scheduled post-season friendlies are considered part of the club’s strategy to boost its summer transfer budget.
Upcoming Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong Matches
Ruben Amorim’s side will play their final league game at Old Trafford which they are looking to rebuild against Aston Villa on May 25.
However, players’s holiday plans will have to wait for a while longer, as they will instead embark on a two-game tour with matches in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong on May 28 and May 30, respectively.
The quick turnaround has raised eyebrows, especially since United could potentially play in the Europa League final in Bilbao just four days before their first tour match.
If they make it that far, they’ll have played three matches in the space of nine days before flying across continents.
“Tour Fixtures Drive Significant Additional Revenue”
United chief executive officer Omar Berrada took the time to explain the club’s reasoning behind the tour.
Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue, which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch
According to MailOnline, the two fixtures could bring in around £8 million for the club. United will first face an ASEAN All Stars team at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur before flying to Hong Kong to take on the Hong Kong national side at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium.
That injection of cash could prove vital this summer. Amorim has already acknowledged that in order for United to strengthen, they’ll likely need to sell players first.
One of their key targets appears to be Wolves striker Matheus Cunha.
As reported by Talk Sport, United are seriously eyeing the 25-year-old forward, who has a release clause of approximately £62.5 million that becomes active this summer.
Despite a recent suspension that saw him miss four matches, Cunha remains Wolves’ top scorer with a total of 15 goals and four assists across all competitions.
He was especially prolific earlier this year, netting five times in six games between February and March.
Amorim is thought to be a fan of Cunha’s playing style, which could slot seamlessly into his preferred 3-4-2-1 system. However, with interest also coming from Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, United may need every penny to get a deal over the line.