Man United and Chelsea planning US tour for preseason games

Chelsea and Man United are in the planning stages of tours to the United States to play preseason friendlies this summer, sources told World Soccer Talk.

Multiple sources have told World Soccer Talk that Chelsea are likely to train in a location near the eastern coast of the United States, possibly in North Carolina, and to use that as their hub in order to minimize travel times.

Meanwhile, sources have also told World Soccer Talk that several clubs have been approached by Chelsea as potential opponents this summer including Wrexham AFC, Leeds United, Newcastle and Brighton.

Whilst early details are thin, the London club are hoping to use Todd Boehly’s connections to maximize their commercial value in the country.

Furthermore, the raft of new players that the American owner has brought into the club will be integral to bringing crowds to these aforementioned friendlies.

Fans will be eager to get a glance at Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Benoit Badiashile as Chelsea plan on a second successive pre-season trip to the United States.

Man United and Chelsea US tours would be ideal this summer

One of the few things the Glazer family and their acolytes got right was an assessment that on-pitch performance didn’t really have an impact on Manchester United’s financial might.

Generally, this has been true, however their global popularity has somewhat slipped, especially in areas where fans aren’t necessarily born into a specific culture that a club represents.

Supporting Man United hasn’t been either fashionable or fun in recent years, but the club retains mammoth support in the United States.

The recent upturn in sporting success under Erik ten Hag has only served to rejuvenate the club’s wide fan-base, and the club are looking to take advantage of their renewed popularity with a return to the United States in 2023.

As per ESPN, Manchester United will likely have a friendly against Wrexham in July, with San Diego seen as the most likely host of the match.

Meanwhile, sources have told World Soccer Talk that Manchester United are considering a friendly match to be played in Las Vegas this summer. In related news, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also considering Las Vegas as a destination for a game this summer.

Manchester United haven’t toured America since 2018, back when Jose Mourinho was still coach.

COVID-19 had a huge impact on potential tour plans during the height of the pandemic, but the club are now able to travel freely.

Whilst there has been no official club confirmation of these tour plans from either Chelsea or Manchester United, Wrexham (owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney) have released a statement on their summer plans.

“The club can confirm that our previously publicized plans to tour the US during pre-season are at an advanced stage, but are not as yet finalized,” the statement read.

“Full details of the games the club will play in and where, will be released across the club’s communication channels when they are confirmed.”

Man United ownership still ‘up in the air’

Whilst ESPN has suggested that Manchester United will be heading to Las Vegas as part of their tour, some supporters wouldn’t want to wager on who will be their owners once the tour begins.

The Glazer family remain as unpopular a family as any in the North West of England and have opened exploratory avenues with regards to new investment/a full sale.

Sources indicate that the preference is a deal is done before the end of the current season, which puts Man United’s pre-season tour to the United States as the first of a brand-new era for the club.

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