No Messi repeat: Manchester United vow to bring their stars for Hong Kong match

Asked whether there was anything legally binding to oblige the Red Devils to field their most high-profile players, he added: “There’s a contract between the club and myself, and there are clauses and measures which protect each others’ interests.”

Eric Fok Kai-shan, the chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, said the match “will not only excite local fans, but will attract fans from the mainland and other Asian regions, enhancing tourism and local engagement”.

“Manchester United is not just a football club but a global icon with millions of fans, including many in Hong Kong,” he said.

Tickets for the match will be on public sale from 12pm Hong Kong time (12pm, Singapore time) on Friday, with prices ranging from HK$390 to HK$2,990 (US$50 to US$385). A number of tickets have already gone in a presale, but Kam reassured fans it was just a small percentage.

“Only a few thousand tickets have been sold in the presale, and they are mainly to the United supporters’ club and partners, of which United have many here in Hong Kong,” he said.

The match will take place at Hong Kong Stadium rather than the new Kai Tak Stadium, which is unavailable because of concerts by Singaporean singer JJ Lin on May 24 and 25.

“It’s unfortunate,” Kam said of the clash. “At first, we wanted to go to Kai Tak … obviously such a fantastic stadium, but unfortunately it’s booked.

“It’s not that we didn’t want to go there, but United have played at Hong Kong Stadium many times and are happy with it.”