EXCLUSIVE: Bruno Fernandes & Co will not be able to get out of Manchester United’s post-season tour to the Far East, which promises to leave them shattered, but Marcus Rashford need not travel
Manchester United’s biggest stars will be made to go on the club’s controversial post-season tour of the Far East.
United have confirmed plans for a two-game tour of Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, just days after the end of the Premier League season. United will travel almost 7,000 miles as part of a deal that will earn the club almost £10m.
And the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Casemiro will not be excused from the gruelling trip. The United players are contractually obliged to take part in the tour, while sponsors want to see Ruben Amorim’s leading names in action in both matches.
Fernandes is expected to line up for Portugal in a Nations League semi final against Germany, less than week after United’s second game in Hong Kong.
But one star who will not be forced to travel to the Far East is Marcus Rashford, whose loan deal with Aston Villa runs until the end of June.
Amorim’s squad will leave the UK immediately after their last match of the season against Aston Villa.
United will face ASEAN All Stars in Malaysia on May 28, before concluding the trip with a match against Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Stadium two days later.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will risk being accused of putting money before player welfare.
But chief executive Omar Berrada claimed the club wanted to recognise the huge fanbase United have in the Far East.
He said: “We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world.
“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.
“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.”
United are next in action when they travel to France on Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Lyon.