The Red Devils are bringing their big guns to the United States.
English Premier League champions Manchester United on Saturday confirmed their traveling roster for their summer tour in the US, and the list includes the likes England internationals Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand and Portuguese winger Nani.
Also on the list are striker Michael Owen, Mexican sensation and Gold Cup hero Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung and club captain Nemanja Vidic. Hernández is expected to join the tour after it begins with their July 13 matchup against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
Rooney and Nani, in particular, will provide Sir Alex Ferguson’s side with an impressive attacking presence. The pair combined for 20 Premier League goals during the 2010-11 season.
Center backs Ferdinand and Vidic have anchored United’s defense for several seasons now. Injury kept Ferdinand out of action for stretches during the past season, but he has been a mainstay at Old Trafford since 2002.
The former English international Michael Owen has been one of the top strikers of his generation for the past dozen years or so. Yet he only won his first EPL title this past season with Manchester United.
Park, who captained the South Korea team at the 2010 World Cup, featured in 33 matches for the Red Devils in all competitions, including in the final of the UEFA Champions League. He finished with 10 goals on the year.
After the match at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Man. United’s US tour includes matches against the Seattle Sounders, Chicago Fire and the MLS All-Stars before finishing off in the nation’s capital with a UEFA Champions League final rematch against FC Barcelona at FedEx Field.
The match against Man. United kicks off a brisk five-games-in-17-days stretch for New England, including three matches against conference opponents.
MANCHESTER UNITED TOUR ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Ben Amos (ENG), David de Gea (ESP), Sam Johnston (ENG), Andres Lindegaard (DEN)
DEFENDERS: Fábio da Silva (BRA), Rafael da Silva (BRA), Jonny Evans (NIR), Patrice Evra (FRA), Rio Ferdinand (ENG), Phil Jones (ENG), Chris Smalling (ENG), Nemanja Vidic (SRB)
MIDFIELDERS: Anderson (BRA), Michael Carrick (ENG), Tom Cleverley (ENG), Ryan Giggs (WAL), Nani (POR), Gabriel Obertan (FRA), Ji-Sung Park (KOR)
FORWARDS: Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Mame Biram Diouf (SEN), Javier Hernández (MEX), Federico Macheda (ITA), Michael Owen (ENG), Wayne Rooney (ENG), Danny Welbeck (ENG), Ashley Young (ENG)
MANAGER: Sir Alex Ferguson
* Indicates player will join tour in progress.
