Redigeretons 1. okt 14:17
Whitwell
Manchester United are exploring the possibility of playing a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia.
Talks with relevant stakeholders are at an early stage and there is no guarantee a game will be arranged, but United are considering ways to raise revenue and, given they have several free midweeks, travelling to the Middle East is seen as an option.
Taking part in a match in Saudi Arabia could be lucrative for United and, secondarily, provide warm weather to train in during the winter months. Criticism might also be drawn due to Ruben Amorim’s stated appreciation of the extra time he has this campaign to work with his team at Carrington. Typically though, United fly abroad several times per season, doing so on eight occasions in the last campaign.
United missed out on as much as £85million ($115m; €98m) by failing to qualify for the Champions League this season, after losing the Europa League final and finishing a disastrous 15th place in the Premier League last term. The decision to scrap an access-all-areas documentary also curtailed what could have been a valuable source of income.
With no European football or further Carabao Cup fixtures following the exit at the hands of League Two Grimsby Town in August, United do not have a midweek fixture again until they host West Ham United at Old Trafford in early December. There are three European matchday weeks between now and then. There could also be scope for a friendly in later December or January.
Marc Armstrong, who became United’s chief business officer in February, has experience of being involved in similar opportunities with his former club Paris Saint-Germain facing a Saudi Pro League XI in Riyadh in January 2023.
Alt den positive PR og stemning i klubben for tiden skulle jo komme med en pris.. Det giver da mening at undersøge sådan en mulighed nu hvor man kommer til at miste så mange indtægter, især fra manglende hjemmekampe, men kunne man ikke have fundet en bedre mulighed end at gå fuld sellout?
Men okay Liverpool har jo været de største modtagere af Saudi penge mener jeg at have læst, så hvorfor ikke følge i deres fodspor og skabe et forhold til et sted der kan give United den hurtigste vej tilbage til en bedre økonomi? Moderne fodbold i en nøddeskal og jeg ved jo allerede at jeg selv kommer til at se den kamp alligevel i håbet om at se et par unge spillere få chancen så hvem er jeg til at dømme...
Manchester United
Brøndby IF