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The World Cup is likely to rule out Manchester United going on another mini tour as soon as the season ends next year – and could have a significant bearing on their pre-season plans, too.
Confidential understands there won’t be time between the end of the campaign on May 24 and the start of the tournament in North America on June 11 for United to repeat their visit to Malaysia and Hong Kong after the final game of last season, which earned the club around £10million.
United must also decide if the five-week World Cup will whet the US public’s appetite for more football or saturate the market, potentially impacting ticket sales. The World Cup final will take place on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and United are set to go on tour shortly afterwards.
Sources stress that a decision has yet to be made and all options remain open, with the current focus on agreeing a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia which would compensate for the loss of the post-season trip.
But having toured the US for the last three summers in conjunction with a £60m-a-year sponsorship deal with Snapdragon, there is a feeling that United might be better off exploring the Asian market again next year.
As well as the desire to connect with their fans worldwide, the club are under pressure to generate more money from tours after missing out on £100m by failing to qualify for this season’s Champions League, which also triggered a £10m penalty payable to kit suppliers adidas.
Bruno Fernandes and his United team-mates arrive in Chicago ahead of the club's pre-season tour of the USA in the summer
Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha lead the United celebrations after they won the Summer Series in Atlanta, Georgia, in the summer. But will they tour the States next year?
Amorim guides way for Shea
Ruben Amorim is taking a hands-on approach with Shea Lacey’s progression towards the first team.
The 18-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut but, as previously detailed in this column, he is widely seen as the next one off the conveyor belt of academy talent.
Lacey featured in the Under 21s’ first Premier League 2 defeat of the season on Friday night, but was not involved in the National League Cup against Rochdale last Tuesday as part of pre-planning from Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox.
Confidential exclusively revealed how Amorim and Lacey have had numerous one-to-one conversations around the training ground in recent weeks, and his increasing involvement with the first-team group has seen a greater focus on mapping out his route to a debut.
‘It’s important the games programme doesn’t get in the way of his opportunities with the first team,’ Under 21s boss Travis Binnion told us. ‘He’s had a good few days with the first team (last week). We speak every day with the first team and get a week ahead in terms of what games he’s going to play and what’s right for him.
‘I saw Jason at Barnsley and you have conversations with him, (academy head) Stephen Torpey, Ruben and (assistant) Carlos (Fernandes) around who, where, when, what.
‘We are trying to get ahead of it by planning around the games, and you can’t do that without the dialogue that we have.’
For Lacey, who is best suited playing in a right attacking midfielder role, the aim is to play a part with the first team when Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui head off to the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21.
Shea Lacey of Manchester United Under 21s keeps the ball away from Rio Kyerematen of Tottenham. Lacey's progression into the United first team is being meticulously planned
Licha answers the call
Lisandro Martinez could join up with Argentina in the international break, even though he might not have made his comeback for United after a long-term knee injury.
Martinez is back in full training for the first time since rupturing an ACL in early February, but Amorim is being careful not to rush the 27-year-old defender.
It’s understood that United feel Martinez’s recovery may be better served by training at a high level with Argentina rather than staying at Carrington when most of his team-mates will be away on international duty and the remainder will be having some time off and lighter workouts.
Martinez was hoping to be back in action before the break but only has one more opportunity at Tottenham on Saturday, and Amorim hasn’t been taking any chances.
‘He wants to go to this one, but he's not going to,’ said the United boss before last weekend’s draw at Nottingham Forest. ‘He’s going to take time. He started training with us, but we had to change some things in the exercises for him. So slowly he's going to get better.’
Defender Lisandro Martinez is close to a return to action but United are determined not to rush him back
Roma target Zirkzee
Roma are expected to revive their interest in Joshua Zirkzee in the January transfer window as the Dutchman’s career at United continues to stagnate.
Confidential revealed last month that Zirkzee would look to go out on loan in search of first-team football ahead of the World Cup if his playing time at United doesn’t increase. The 24-year-old’s five appearances this season have all come off the bench.
Roma made an unsuccessful bid to sign Zirkzee in the summer and are set to try again for the forward who made his name playing for Bologna in Serie A before moving to Old Trafford in a £36.5m deal.
Amorim admitted last week that he expects unsettled stars like Zirkzee and Kobbie Mainoo to ask to go out on loan.
Joshua Zirkzee is desperate for more first-team chances with the World Cup looming next summer and so will look for a loan exit in January if he doesn't get game time at United
No ticket break for fans
United are set to resist calls to relax their season-ticket attendance rules after they were handed an ‘unprecedented’ run of midweek and night-time kick-offs.
Amorim’s side will not play a Premier League match at Old Trafford on a weekend for at least 105 days – between October 3 and January 17 – after several of their games were moved for TV coverage.
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust and the Fans’ Forum have led calls for the club to change their regulations around minimum ticket usage, which state supporters must either attend the match themselves, transfer, donate or resell their ticket through official channels for 15 of the 19 home games or risk losing their seat for next season.
They argue it is unfair to keep the rule in place due to the ‘unprecedented inconvenience’ caused by the fixture alterations, but Confidential understands United have no plans to make any changes.
Sources close to the matter believe fans have several options regarding their tickets for the rescheduled matches, none of which have been moved at less than 14 days’ notice – the cut-off for fans to resell their seats back to the club.
United raised the scheduling issue with the Premier League but, just a week later, they confirmed the home clash with Newcastle would be the sole match on Boxing Day, with an 8pm kick-off.
Ruben pressed for time
The decision to train later on Fridays so the players aren’t hanging around before travelling to away games led to Amorim bringing his pre-match press conference forward by 24 hours last week.
The United squad usually train at 11am, giving Amorim enough time to speak to the media before the 1.30pm deadline on Friday set by the Premier League. However, the schedule left the players at a loose end at the training ground, but with not enough time to go home.
Confidential understands the decision was taken to train later last Friday before Amorim and his squad left for the game against Nottingham Forest, and for the head coach to speak to the media on Thursday instead.
That will be repeated this week before United face Tottenham, but won’t be an issue again for quite a while with the next away game on a Saturday not scheduled until Amorim’s side travel to Arsenal in late January.
Ruben Amorim will be flexible with the timings of his weekly press conference
Bring on the Chiefs
With Premier League 2 matches on pause until January and cup competitions now the sole focus for the Under 21s, coach Binnion and his staff have been eager to add more fixtures to the calendar.
Confidential can reveal they have done just that with two high-profile games that will see the United youngsters host South African side Kaizer Chiefs at Carrington, while also taking on Arsenal in a match at St George’s Park.
The Kaizer Chiefs are travelling over for a mini-tour of the UK, with further games expected against Leeds United and QPR.
With games against Notts County in the EFL Trophy, Solihull Moors and Tamworth in the National League Cup, as well as Anderlecht and Borussia Dortmund in the Premier League International Cup, United are hopeful they can stay competitive in the league’s mid-season break.
Binnion said: ‘Those fixtures plus the two added as a whole give us a fantastic games programme with a variety of experiences, which is what we want to make sure all the players are getting the opportunity that they need.’
Wright move for Fletch
It was noteworthy to see Under 18s manager Darren Fletcher on the touchline for the past two Under 21 matches – but it is not a long-term role.
Confidential understands Alan Wright, Binnion’s usual assistant in that age-group, has been granted some time away to deal with a personal issue and Fletcher has stepped in.
What it did present on Friday night was the rare opportunity for Fletcher to coach one of his own sons, in this case Tyler. His other son Jack watched from the stands after picking up an injury in first-team training. He is expected to be back involved for Tuesday's match-up against Notts County.
Darren Fletcher has moved up to coach United's Under 21s - but it is a temporary role
Earps makes Old Trafford return
Mary Earps has been in the news this week, and the former United goalkeeper will be the centre of attention again when she returns to Old Trafford with Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday.
Earps’ new book, and in particular the comments about her England rival Hannah Hampton and coach Sarina Wiegman, have caused quite a controversy.
Hampton helped the Lionesses win the Euros this summer after taking Earps’ place, and the 32-year-old’s replacement at United, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, has also seized her opportunity to become one of the most consistent performers for Marc Skinner’s team.
United took a risk by letting Earps and another England star, Alessia Russo, leave in recent years but are reaping the benefits with a pool of emerging talent that is unbeaten in the WSL and playing in the main phase of the Champions League for the first time.
After beating Atletico Madrid and Valerenga, PSG represent the biggest test so far for United, who are looking forward to welcoming back Earps in front of a big crowd at Old Trafford.
Mary Earps, whose book has caused a storm, will return to Old Trafford next week with her new club PSG in the Champions League
Bruno’s tribute to Brand
Bruno Fernandes walked out for United’s game against Brighton at Old Trafford with Paul Brand’s two young sons as part of the club’s farewell to their outgoing head of performance analysis.
Brand is leaving United after 12 years to become the football intelligence lead at UEFA. As well as his sons being mascots, Brand was presented with a framed No 12 shirt by Fernandes who gave a speech in front of players and staff at Carrington on Friday.
‘Manchester United is the biggest and best club in the world and they’ve especially shown that in the way they’ve treated me, and my family, in the past couple of weeks,’ said Brand. ‘To see my boys walk out with Bruno at Old Trafford – followed by a simply incredible send-off from all players and staff – it’s been the perfect ending to this chapter of my career, and life.’
There was another touching moment at the Brighton game when the Seagulls’ players took it in turns to hug their former chef Will Carvalho on the way into Old Trafford. Carvalho, who left the south coast for United in the summer, had waited by the entrance to greet the visitors.
