Last summer, manager Sir Alex Ferguson got away from Manchester United during its North American tour, sneaking down to Washington to see some of the sights and take a tour of the White House. This summer, he’s bringing the team with him.
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“You need more than two days, of course, to take in all the various places,” Ferguson said.
But the impression that he leaves behind could be more significant than the one he takes with him after English striker Wayne Rooney and Manchester United meet Barcelona at FedEx Field on July 30 in what could be the largest-ever attended professional soccer match in the region.
A crowd of 72,368 at FedEx watched Real Madrid waltz past D.C. United, 3-0, two summers ago.
Barcelona is equally compelling, boasting midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta from 2010 World Cup champion Spain. Although, the world’s best player, Lionel Messi, isn’t expected to be available due to playing for Argentina in Copa America.
The FedEx spectacle will cap a five-game preseason tour for Manchester United that includes a rematch of last year’s MLS All-Star Game, which Manchester United won, 5-2 but that isn’t why Ferguson is coming back to the U.S. for the second straight summer. Even Forbes ascribes Manchester United’s estimated $1.835 billion value to “shrewd marketing to a worldwide fan base.”
“We sometimes have to go to the Far East because there’s a tremendous following in the Far East, probably over 100 million supporters, and we see this fanaticism and great enthusiasm when we arrive there,” Ferguson said. “Last year we’ve seen an increase and impact in the number of supporters we have in the United States, and hopefully this is a sign of good times for us.”
Manchester United, winner of the 2008 UEFA Champions League, could also meet Barcelona, the 2009 champion, in the 2011 final if both advance through the quarterfinals and semifinals.
“Barcelona are at a tremendous peak,” Ferguson said. “They’re a team that has come to maturity the last two years, and they have some fantastic footballers as I’ve witnessed many times this season. Some people tell me don’t play Barcelona in the European Cup and keep away from them. I relish these challenges. These are the games in which you want to measure yourselves against the best.”
