Premier league stars complain about post-season tours and 'express concerns'

MANCHESTER UNITED HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM TWO MEANINGLESS FRIENDLIES IN ASIA AND PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS HAVE "EXPRESSED CONCERNS" ABOUT POST-SEASON TOURS 13:41, 03 Jun 2025Updated

13:44, 03 Jun 2025 Premier League players have contacted the PFA to raise concerns about going on club post-season tours. The news comes in the wake of Manchester United having just returned

from a trip to Asia. Ruben Amorim's squad travelled to Malaysia and Hong Kong to take part in two meaningless friendlies - within hours of their last league game of a gruelling season.

At the end of the previous season, Tottenham and Newcastle met in a post-season game in Australia, just three days after the final weekend of the 2023-24 campaign. Clubs including

Manchester City have also travelled for post-season games to countries including Canada and the United States. United bosses insisted United took part in the recent trip to Asia because it

would generate almost £10m in revenue. But the tour was mired in controversy due to the team's shambolic performances, while Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho were filmed making

obscene gestures to supporters. And PFA CEO Maheta Molango has now revealed some leading stars are increasingly unhappy at overseas friendly games reducing their rest periods. Article

continues below At the start of this season, City's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri revealed how some players would consider going on strike unless football authorities reduced the amount

of games in the calendar. Molango said: "I think we're all mindful and understand some of the financial dynamics that a club goes through. But the reality is that quite a few

players have expressed concern. We (PFA) have expressed concern about those post-season tours. "I'm not just talking about Manchester United. I'm talking in general about that

situation and this once again confirms the need of taking a holistic approach to the problem. "Because you are not going to solve it if you just attack one specific competition. You

need to be able to take a holistic view." Molango also said high-profile games on pre-season tours had become another concern for leading footballers. Article continues below City and

Chelsea stars will travel to the States later this month to take part in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup. United, Everton, Bournemouth and West Ham will compete in the Premier League

Summer Series, also in the States, between July 26 and August 3. While champions Liverpool will play games in Hong Kong and Japan, Arsenal will travel to Singapore and Hong Kong and

Newcastle and Spurs will meet each other in South Korea this summer