Man United ‘are exploring a money-spinning mid-season friendly in SAUDI ARABIA’ to raise revenue after missing out on £85m Champions League windfall

Manchester United have reportedly opened talks over playing a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to raise revenues.

According to the Athletic, the Red Devils are exploring the prospect due to having multiple free midweeks in the season.

It follows Ruben Amorim‘s side failing to qualify for European competition this season, as well as suffering a shock Carabao Cup defeat by League Two side Grimsby Town.

Man United loss in the Europa League final to Tottenham last season saw the club miss out on a £85m windfall which would have come from qualifying for the Champions League.

A friendly in Saudi Arabia could reportedly prove lucrative for the Red Devils, while it would offer warm-weather training in the winter.

Newcastle United have previously travelled to Saudi Arabia for warm-weather training during the season.

The Red Devils are seeking ways to boost revenue after missing out on the Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo could face his former club if Al-Nassr were to feature in the potential friendly

Reigning European champions PSG had held a mid-season friendly against a Saudi Pro League XI in Riyadh back in January 2023.

Man United’s chief business officer Marc Armstrong, who was appointed in February, had been PSG’s chief revenue officer at the time.

Daily Mail Sport understands no agreement has been reached over a friendly in Saudi Arabia to date.

There are two midweeks of European action in November in which Man United could explore a friendly, with another round of fixtures in December.

A reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo could be a possible option if a friendly is agreed, with the former Man United star, who plays for Al-Nassr, currently being the Saudi Pro League’s most high-profile player.

Man United would need to comply with the Premier League handbook, which outlines conditions for clubs to arrange other matches.

The handbook states clubs shall not arrange to play a friendly match during the season ‘until the dates of league matches for that season have been fixed and published’ or ‘so that it adversely affects a league match’.

Man United had held a tour in Malaysia and Hong Kong at the end of last season, which generated around £8million in revenue.

Ruben Amorim’s side have several free midweeks after missing out on European football

Man United earned around £8m from a post-season tour in Malaysia and Hong Kong in May

Man United announced last month that they had recorded record revenues of £666.5 million last season, despite finishing in 15th place, their lowest Premier League position.

Despite the revenues, the Red Devils still recorded an overall loss of £33m.

This represented a reduction on the previous year, when the figure was £113.2m.

The club’s historic debt, a legacy of the Glazer family’s leveraged takeover 20 years ago, remains unchanged at $650m, although fell from £511m last year to £471.9m thanks to the pound’s performance against the dollar.

United spent £36.6m on ‘exceptional items’ which relates to the restructuring of the club and pay-offs to former manager Erik ten Hag and his backroom team.

The club’s operating expenses were £733.6m, which was down £34.9m on last year. Wages were down £51.5m to £313.2m, while other operating expenses were £170.4m, up £21m, thanks to what the club described as ‘the transition to our new e-commerce model in the current year’.

The financial results did not include the major impact of the club’s summer transfer business, in which around £200m was spent on recruiting Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens.

Despite the investment into Man United’s squad this summer, the Red Devils have endured a difficult start to the campaign with pressure ramping up on boss Ruben Amorim.

Amorim’s side have won two, drawn one and lost three of the Premier League matches to date, leaving the club 14th in the early season table.