Manchester United add Japan date to Asian tour

TOKYO - Agence France-Presse

Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie (L) talks to Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney during an English Premier League football match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage Stadium in London, England, on February 2, 2013. AFP photo

Manchester United announced on Tuesday they will visit Japan as part of their pre-season tour of Asia, giving a chance for Japanese attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa to dazzle his home fans.
 
The Premier League giants will face J-League outfit Yokohama F. Marinos on July 23 in their first game on Japanese turf for five years.
 
"Manchester United has great memories of playing in Japan and our game against the Yokohama F. Marinos will play an important part of our pre-season preparations," said United chief executive David Gill in a statement.
 
"The Nissan Stadium (in Yokohama) is one of the best in the world and Manchester United has a connection with it, having become the first English team to win the FIFA Club World Cup there (in 2008) ." The president of the Marinos, Akira Kaetsu, said the team was honoured to play against United, currently top of the Premier League.
 
"We will show our best performance during the 2013 season so that on July 23, as a team that represents Japan, we can make a great impact on the soccer fans of the world," he said. Kagawa, one of the star names in the Japanese national side, signed for United last year in a big-money move from Borussia Dortmund and is keenly followed by Japan's media.
 
Japan is the third stop announced on United's pre-season tour, aimed at cashing in on the club's legions of fans across Asia. They will play in Australia on July 20 and in Hong Kong on July 29.