Man Utd announce pre-season tour as games against Liverpool and Crystal Palace go global

Manchester United will travel to Australia and Thailand this summer for a pre-season tour.

On July 12th, United will face Liverpool in the ‘The Match’ Centenary Cup at the Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The team will then go to Melbourne, Australia, for the first time since 1999. The Red Devils play local A-League team Melbourne Victory on July 15th and Premier League opponents Crystal Palace on July 19th at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“Pre-season travels are such a vital part of the squad’s preparation for the season ahead, so it’s crucial to have superb training facilities and high-quality opposition,” United football director John Murtough said. We’re thrilled to have both of these things during our summer trips to Bangkok and Melbourne, and we’re looking forward to performing in front of our fans in both cities for the first time in years.”

“It’s been two years since the club has been able to travel on an international pre-season tour,” said Collette Roche, “so we can’t wait to get out this summer and reconnect with our fans in Southeast Asia and Australasia.”

“Our matches in Bangkok and Melbourne will provide a thrilling schedule of games for foreign fans to witness their favorite players up close.” The Red Devils have faced Liverpool in pre-season on several occasions before, most recently getting crushed 4-1 in the United States. They have yet to appoint a permanent manager.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba, two players who could leave United during the summer transfer window, have been prominently featured in the tour’s promotion. The 37-year-old has a contract until June 2023 at Old Trafford, although Pogba’s contract expires in June and the France international is more likely to go.

Prior to Portugal’s World Cup play-off triumph over North Macedonia on Tuesday, Ronaldo said that he was “the boss” when it came to his long-term future in the game, saying that he was “the boss” when it came to retiring. “I’m starting to notice that a lot of you are asking the same question. Only I, and no one else, will choose my future “affirmed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“If I feel like playing additional games, I will; if I do not, I will not. I’m the boss, end of story. I take each day as it comes; only God knows what tomorrow holds. I adore football and continue to feel helpful at both the club and national team levels. I’ll make my decision when it’s convenient for me, not when it’s convenient for fans, family, or journalists. I’ve always made decisions about my life and will continue to do so.”