Report: Manchester United to suspend pre-season plans to tour India

The Premier League side were planning to hold a friendly game with East Bengal at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Daily Mail has reported that Manchester United’s pre-season plans to tour India have been deferred as European competitions are set to resume in August.

Apparently, a delegation from United had visited Kolkata last year and accordingly the plans were put in place. However, currently club sources seem to suggest that the aforementioned trip to India is unlikely to take place now.

Back in November, Khel Now had revealed that the Red Devils had sent a contingent led by the club’s director of football operations, Alan Dawson to India. The objective of the same was to discuss the possibility of organizing a friendly encounter with East Bengal.

It was reported that the officials from Manchester United did an exploration of the Salt Lake Stadium and were impressed with the facilities available. Now, the abandonment of this tour could cost the club a hefty amount in terms of sponsorship, appearance fees and merchandising.

The report also states that sources from the club have confirmed that there was no insurance involved yet. This is because plans were still being drawn out and hence were at a very initial stage with contracts yet to be signed.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the footballing calendar. UEFA is looking to reschedule the Champions League final to August 29, 2020. The venue for the premier match of the continental championship would be Istanbul.

On the other hand, the Premier League is looking to set about the 2020-21 campaign from mid-September. With such a minimal gap between these two major events, Premier League clubs are believed to be planning to play lower league sides in their reduced pre-season preparations.

This could arguably shorten the logistical obligations and also provide players the much-needed match practice and game-time ahead of a fresh domestic football season.

Moreover, it would also be an opportunity for their opponents from the other tiers of the football system to create revenue and recover some of the losses that they will incur during the ongoing crisis.

Meanwhile, East Bengal’s aspirationss to commemorate the 100th year of their existence with a match against one of the most successful Premier League club of all-time might just have to be suspended for the time being.