Manchester United: Pre-season starts here

Cerezo Osaka – Osaka has floated between J1 and J2 over the past decade, although it finished a modest if safe 14th last season. The club, which is named after the ‘Cerezo’ cherry blossom flowers so famous in the Japanese spring, was once home to United’s Shinji Kagawa – he played more than 120 times for the side between 2006 and 2010. In common with many Japanese teams Cerezo is owned by a corporation – Yanmar, a diesel engine manufacturer.

Kitchee FC – five times winners of the island’s first division Hong Kong Barça – no really – will receive some HK$8 millon (£700,000) to host the match at which a sell-out 40,000 crowd is expected. Good job since United is reportedly being paid double to play in south China. The side features a mix of locals, Chinese and ex-pat players including Zeshan Rehman, the first British Asian to start a Premier League match. Managed by former Barcelona youth team coach Àlex Gómez.

AIK Fotboll – fourth in Allsvenskan last season, AIK is slowly on the rise after suffering three difficult seasons in recent times. AIK claimed the title in 2009, but has since seen three managers leave with the heights of that triumph yet to be repeated. Still, 11-times national Champions, AIK remains one of Sweden’s biggest clubs having recently moved into the outstanding Friend’s arena. Currently managed by 40-year-old Swede Andreas Alm.

The Stadia

Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, 65,000 – the national stadium of Thailand opened in 1998 and was first used during the ’98 Asian Games. Predominantly used for international matches and a few major club games, Rajamangala is a large concrete bowl, not unlike a brutalist version of John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield. Located in Hua Mak, north-west Bangkok, United supporters will enjoy an epic trek through the city’s notorious traffic jams with no public transport serving the stadium.

ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 82,500 – Stadium Australia was built to host the 2000 Summer Olympics at a cost of some A$700 million and then reconfigured post Games. Originally holding more than 100,000 spectators, the venue now hosts a variety of sports including the New South Wales rugby league team and the National Rugby League grand final. The stadium also hosted the 2003 Rugby World Cup finals. It is located in Sydney’s Olympic Park some 20 miles east of Bondi Beach.

Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, 72,327 – the International Stadium Yokohama is a multi-sport venue built ahead of the 2002 World Cup held in Japan and South Korea. It hosted three first-round games during the tournament together with the final between Germany and Brazil. International Stadium was also host to the FIFA Club World Cup six times over the past decade, including United’s victory over LDU Quito in 2008. It is located near Tsurumi River in Midori-ku, a commuter town for central Yokohama and Tokyo.

Osaka Nagai Stadium, Osaka, 50,000 – home to England’s notoriously laboured scoreless draw against Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup, Nagai Stadium was originally opened in 1964 for the Summer Olympics. The stadium was expanded both for the National Sports Festival of Japan in 1997 and the 2002 World Cup and is regularly used for athletics. The annual Osaka Grand Prix and the Osaka International Ladies Marathon both use the venue. Rumours that Anderson is to take part in the latter are yet to be confirmed.