TA's Manchester United team reporter Laurie Whitwell exclusively reported that Manchester United is exploring the possibility of a mid-season friendly match with the destination of Saudi Arabia, which can bring additional income to the club.
Manchester United tried the playoff tour for the first time at the end of the 2024-25 season, playing two games in Malaysia and Hong Kong, with an estimated revenue of $10 million.
It is reported that negotiations for the mid-season friendly match are still in the early stages and there is no determination whether the game can be arranged, but Manchester United is looking for ways to increase revenue. Given the weeks of free time in the middle of the season, heading to the Middle East is seen as a viable option.
After losing the UEFA Cup final last season and falling to the disastrous 15th place in the Premier League, Manchester United missed the Champions League this season, with losses of up to 85 million pounds ($115 million; 98 million euros).
Previously, Sports Weekly disclosed in July that Manchester United's decision to cancel the all-round documentary also cut off a potential important source of income.
Participating in Saudi Arabia may bring great benefits to Manchester United, and secondly, it can provide a warm climate training environment in winter.
Because he was eliminated from the English League Two team Greensby in August, Manchester United has neither European mission nor League Cup events this season, and there was no mid-week match until early December when he played against West Ham United at home. There were three European match weeks during this period. Friendly match schedules may also exist in late December or January.
In addition, Manchester United needs to abide by the Premier League's regulations on friendly matches during the season. The Premier League Manual clearly stipulates that clubs shall not arrange friendly matches before the league schedule is announced, and shall not have an adverse impact on league matches. The club is expected to communicate with regulators.