Manchester United officials are pondering lucrative midweek friendly fixtures as they look to fill the £40million void left by the lack of Champions League action.
United failed to qualify for either guise of European competition with a seventh-placed league finish last season.
And Richard Arnold, managing director at Old Trafford, believes that high-profile overseas fixtures is something that the club consider extremely important.
A gargantuan 100,000 fans attended the Reds’ pre-season fixture against Real Madrid in Michigan this past summer, and Arnold is convinced that Louis van Gaal would be receptive of playing mid-week friendlies, especially after United were dumped out of the League Cup by MK Dons back in August.
“That’s [midweek fixtures] something that’s being looked at,” Arnold told the BBC on Tuesday.
“We have a fantastic partnership in terms of our work off the pitch and I’m very appreciative of the support we have had from him [Van Gaal].
“For many years of our [pre-season] international tours, there is a plan to ensure we get that team building that goes together with getting the team all together in one place.”
And although exotic mid-week trips could be exhausting for the players, Arnold was adamant that it would actually be a benefit to the squad.
“It’s very demanding in a good way as you have to be focused every single day of the sessions or the meeting,” he added.
Main image courtesy of Jason Cairnduff/Action Images, with thanks.
