Manchester United Would Pocket More Than $3M For Preseason Friendly In Australia

ManU looks set to make its "first appearance in Australia for 14 years next summer," according to Simon Stone of the PA. ManU officials have been in talks with the Football Federation Australia counterparts for a "number of months now" about Manager Alex Ferguson's men heading to Australia as part of the club's '13 preseason tour. Although the team has yet to confirm its plans, it has been reported in Australia that the "finishing touches are now being applied to a match that would see United take on an A-League All Star team at ANZ Stadium" on July 20. The fixture would come "just three days" after the final State of Origin rugby league match at the same venue, which currently holds 84,000. It has been suggested ManU could make around £2M ($3.2M) for the game, which is "almost certain to include current A-League star attraction Alessandro Del Piero and maybe also Emile Heskey if he extends his stay with the Newcastle Jets" (PA, 12/6).