« on: July 21, 2007, 07:50:23 AM »
SEOUL (AFP) - Manchester United will tour South Africa in 2008 after admitting that Africa and Asia, rather than the United States, are the regions where their fan-base is most fanatical.
The Premiership champions, currently in Asia on a four-leg pre-season tour, were due to land in Macau on Saturday after wowing fans in Tokyo and Seoul earlier this week.
United stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and injured South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung have been subjected to incredible displays of adulation since arriving in Asia.
With Premiership rivals Chelsea opting to spend two weeks in the United States this month, United may have allowed the London club to steal a march on them in North America.
"Is America ever going to be as passionate as the Asian market? I wouldn't have thought so.
"You see what the following is like over here and you see all the coverage and the amazing support we have. There is huge interest in Premier League football and Manchester United in particular.
"Where next? I think Africa is an interesting one. Theres' clearly a great following for the Premier League in Africa and we are going back to South Africa next year."
United play the third game of the tour when they face Shenzhen FC in Macau on Monday. Sir Alex Ferguson's team then move on to southern China for a clash with Guangzhou Pharmaceutical on Friday before returning to England.
