CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United are welcomed by hundreds of fans as they arrive in Shanghai to play the third match of their pre-season world tour

Record ID: 336431

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United are welcomed by hundreds of fans as they arrive in Shanghai to play the third match of their pre-season world tour
  • Date: 22nd July 2012
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (JULY 22, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MANCHESTER UNITED FANS GATHERING AT PUDONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MAN UNITED FANS WAITING
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABKK98D2XS5OK684Q65ITSKWYH
  • Story Text: Hundreds of fans welcomed Manchester United as they arrived at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China on Sunday (July 22).
    The Red Devils will play Shanghai Shenhua, the club that signed former Chelsea players Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka, in the third match of their pre-season world tour.
    The friendly match between the two teams will be held on Wednesday (July 25) at the city stadium, when Ivorian striker Drogba will make his debut for Shenhua.
    Man United started off their pre-season world tour with a narrow victory of 1-0 against AmaZulu and a 1-1 draw with Ajax Cape Town in South Africa last week.
    United will play Shenhua, managed by former Argentina manager Sergio Batista and currently sitting 13th in the 16-team China Super League, without its star striker Wayne Rooney and veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs.
    One fan who welcomed the United players, Wu Yuanming, 25, said: "I have followed Man United closely for more than 10 years. I think it's rare to have this kind of chance. In my whole life, I may only get one or two chances like this. Now it's happened in Shanghai. It's a golden chance. I had to come."
    Another fan, Shen Yifei, also 25, added: "I'm also a fan of Shanghai Shenhua by accident. So I'm very excited to see both my favourite teams playing a match in Shanghai though it's a commercial match. I hope the two teams can offer us an exciting match. I think it's great that there will be a duel between Shenhua who owns Anelka, Drogba and our favourite Man United."
    China's recent huge investments in star players are based on the hope that it will inspire a nation of young footballers and improve standards, with the national team lagging far behind neighbouring Asian football giants, Japan and South Korea.
    The UK football powerhouse is expected to launch its IPO in New York as early as this week, for pricing in early August, after earlier attempts in Hong Kong, Singapore and the UK.
    After the Shanghai match the Red Devils go to Oslo, Norway to play Valerenga on Sunday 5 August before they travel to Gothenburg, Sweden to face Barcelona on Wednesday 8 August. Alex Ferguson's team finish the tour in Hannover on Saturday 11 August.
    United start their English Premier League campaign against Everton on Monday 20 August.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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