Pep Guardiola's first game as Manchester City manager could be against neighbours Manchester United as both Manchester giants will travel to China in July 2016 as part of their pre-season schedule.
City were announced as the first of three teams in the International Champions Cup on Friday, with United expected to be confirmed imminently. The 20-times English champions plan to spend eight days in China as part of their pre-season. A major Italian team is also expected to be confirmed for the round robin tournament.
The venues have yet to be announced by organisers Relevent Sports, Catalyst Media Group, and LeSports, but while United have been regular visitors to China since 1999 – when they played to 80,000 fans in Shanghai – it would be the first time they have played City in Asia.
City recently agreed a deal with a consortium of Chinese investors, selling a 13 per cent stake in the City Football Group, the club’s holding company, for a reported £265 million (Dh1.4 billion). Chinese president Xi Jinping also visited City’s Etihad Stadium during his state visit to the United Kingdom in October 2015.
Both Manchester clubs are keen to raise their profile in the world’s second largest economy. They have both been frequent visitors to the United States, the world’s biggest economy.
United last toured China in 2009, though they played a single game there in 2012 – the year Chevrolet announced their record breaking United shirt sponsorship deal at the Shanghai motor show.
Football is becoming more popular in China, with Chinese clubs making up six of the top eight most expensive transfers in football during their current transfer window. United usually tour for two to three weeks pre-season, but they will undertake a truncated tour because they want to give those players involved in Euro 2016 three weeks’ rest.
United also need to be back in Manchester for Wayne Rooney’s testimonial on August 3 at Old Trafford. The side currently managed by Louis van Gaal could play further pre-season friendlies in Europe after Rooney’s testimonial.
The games in China will be part of the fourth edition of the International Champions Cup. United played in the first edition in the United States in 2013, while Real Madrid were winners of the first ICC China tournament in 2015 which was played in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
“The International Champions Cup China was an enormous success in 2015 and we are excited to announce our return in 2016,” said David Tyler, chief executive of Relevent Sports.
Patrick Murphy, chief executive of Catalyst Media Group said, “After an amazing response from fans in 2015, we are delighted to confirm ICC’s return to China and the participation of one of the ‘it’ (City) clubs in world football. The progress of football in China is impressive and we are honoured to be part of that.
“We’ll be working with all our clubs, strategic partner LeSports and sponsors to ensure ICC China raises the benchmark again for premium football tours in the market. Fans in China deserve an engaging, meaningful and annually consistent platform to consume premium football – ICC China is exactly that. ”
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