posted on Sep, 29 2004 @ 03:11 PM
Manchester United have announced they will tour Asia in the summer. The precise details of the tour, which will take place in July, have yet to be
finalised but The Red Devils are expected to play in China and Japan.
Sir Alex Ferguson's team have travelled to the United States for the past two summers, although this year they failed to impress their American
audiences, who were less than satisfied with their disappointing performances and the lack of star names on the trip.
The reaction of the American public appears to have influenced the club's decision to return to Asia.
"We want our tours to create a halo effect," said United commercial director Andy Anson.
"We have some key international territories and Asia is one of them.
"There are millions of mad, passionate Manchester United fans in that part of the world and I think we are currently under-serving them," he added.
The Red Devils already boast a Chinese language website and have opened club coffee shops in the world's most populous country.
There has been an explosion of interest in Premiership football in China due to the success of players such as Manchester City's Sun Jihai and
Everton's Li Tie.
United have their own Chinese player, Dong Fangzhou, who is currently on loan at feeder club Royal Antwerp.
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