• Football

United in talks with Milan over friendly

ESPN staff
October 31, 2014
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Manchester United are in talks with AC Milan about playing a friendly in the new year, the Italian club have confirmed.

Neither club is in the Champions League nor Europa League this season and they are exploring the options of playing each other in a lucrative one-off midweek game, almost certainly in the Middle East.

Wayne Rooney inspired Manchester United to a 4-0 Champions League win against AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2010 © Getty Images
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"This is something we have been talking about for a few weeks and we have a committed interest to do something together," AC Milan's director Umberto Gandini told Press Association Sport.

"It's just a question to find the right date and then to find the right place."

One possible date would be Wednesday January 28, which does not clash with any European matches or Italian Cup games. There are League Cup semi-finals taking place in England but that would not impact on United playing a friendly.

Louis van Gaal said earlier this month that he wanted his team to play "high level" opposition in midweek and had spoken about it to United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and managing director Richard Arnold.

Both United and Milan could expect to earn more than £1 million from the match. United expect a drop in income of up to £48m as a result of failing to qualify for the Champions League under David Moyes.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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