Manchester United missed out on Champions League football and the £100m that accompanied it when they lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester United are reportedly considering the possibility of playing mid-season friendlies during Champions League matchdays to boost their revenue this season.
United are without European football for the first time since the 2014/15 season and this has left them with a shortfall in their incoming revenue. While it soon became apparent that the Reds would miss out on the Champions League through their Premier League position, hopes rested on winning the Europa League final instead.
However, a lacklustre performance against Tottenham Hotspur saw them miss out on Europe entirely and has left their schedule looking blank in comparison to many of their rivals. With United also exiting the Carabao Cup earlier than anticipated, The Sun understands the Reds are considering arranging friendlies in countries like the UAE with other top clubs who also missed out on Europe.
Notably, AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Lazio and Sevilla all face the prospect of no European football this season and could be potential opponents for the Reds when their domestic rivals are in the Champions League. Ineos have been no strangers to using unorthodox methods to boost the club's finances since arriving at Old Trafford.
At the end of last season, United toured Asia facing two fixtures against local teams. It is believed that tour generated £7.8m while their participation in the Premier League Series banked them a slightly smaller amount.
The Sun now claims that United would be able to bank half of that amount for a game against AC Milan or potentially more against a smaller European club who may not have the same pull as the Reds. Failure to qualify for the Champions League is thought to cost any given club £100m.
However, this plan could be considered controversial among some supporters considering the travel strain this would put on the Reds' first-team squad during a season where they desperately need to perform better in the Premier League. There is also the increased, and largely unnecessary, risk of picking up more injuries during these tours.
With Financial Fair Play (FFP) such a big consideration for clubs in this day and age, any extra income is vital to ensure money can be spent on new signings. United managed to bring in more players than was expected this summer thanks to player sales with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Antony making way for Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.
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