Football
PA Sport 9y

Manchester United and AC Milan could meet in Middle East friendly

AC Milan have confirmed that they are in talks with Manchester United about playing a friendly in the new year.

With neither club in the Champions League or the Europa League this season, the option of playing a lucrative one-off game, likely to be in the Middle East, is being explored.

United boss Louis van Gaal -- whose side face a Manchester derby against City on Sunday -- confirmed earlier this month that he backed the idea of meeting top-class opposition in midweek, and AC Milan director Umberto Gandini said a friendly was on the agenda.

"This is something we have been talking about for a few weeks, and we have a committed interest to do something together," Gandini told Press Association Sport.

"It's just a question of finding the right date and then finding the right place.''

One possible date would be around Wednesday Jan. 28, which does not clash with European matches or Italian Cup games.

Van Gaal said he wanted United to play top teams in midweek and had spoken to United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and managing director Richard Arnold about it.

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

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