'Remember what happened with Erik ten Hag!' - Man Utd fans rage over 'awful' post-season tour of Kuala Lumpur & Hong Kong announcement as Sir Jim Ratcliffe & INEOS accused of putting money ahead of 'player welfare'

Back in February, United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted that the first-team squad carries a heavy responsibility in driving the club’s financial "engine". In today’s game, global tours are seen as essential tools for engaging with international fan bases and securing commercial revenue — something United have long prioritised. Yet, while Amorim understands the need to grow the club’s global footprint, the decision to immediately embark on a tour across Asia following the end of the 2024-25 campaign has not gone down well with supporters.

United confirmed on Tuesday that the squad will travel to Malaysia and Hong Kong shortly after their final domestic fixture of the season. They will first play in the Malaysian capital on May 28 against an ASEAN All Stars side in the massive Bukit Jalil Stadium, which accommodates over 80,000 fans. Just two days later, United will head to Hong Kong for a fixture on May 30 at the Hong Kong Stadium, which has a 40,000 capacity. The timing has especially upset fans, with United potentially featuring in the Europa League final on May 21, followed by their last Premier League game at home to Aston Villa on May 25 - leaving barely any recovery time before the long-haul travel begins.

Many fans voiced their disapproval online, expressing disbelief at what they see as another example of the club chasing profits at the expense of footballing priorities under the Glazer family and part owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.

A United fan, @majorlaw2008, warned on X about potentially repeating the mistakes of last summer, when Erik ten Hag saw a number of players suffer injuries before the start of the new season: "How about prioritizing tactics and match fitness of the players. Remember what happened with Ten Hag in the last pre-season."

Another fan, @TheNorthernLad_, bluntly wrote: "Money money money."

While, @charlesmarr22, added: "Awful. No wonder half the side is injured."

Meanwhile, @left_unheard, said: "This needs to be banned. Managers moan about fatigue and player welfare then 2 days after the season ends jet off to the other side of the world for a friendly in 30c weather all for money. Fans are bored of this and the over-commercialisation of football."

@ClairClair211, wrote: "No wonder they're knackered players deserve a proper break, not to be money-making robots for the club."

An elated Omar Berrada, chief executive officer at Manchester United, said of the tour: “We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world and this summer we are delighted to deliver a schedule that provides our fans in Asia, Scandinavia and the United States the opportunity to connect with the club and watch the men’s first team play live in local settings.

“Importantly, Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which helps make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch. They also create unique opportunities for us to collaborate with our valued commercial partners, and to deepen relationships with our fans in regions such as Asia and the US.”

While United’s status as a global brand makes such tours almost inevitable, the timing of the trip - squeezed in between a packed end-of-season calendar and a summer that already includes a demanding U.S. tour - has led to serious questions about balance. As the squad heads into a crucial summer under Amorim, fans are left wondering if commercial commitments are once again taking precedence - and at what cost to next season’s ambitions.