Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson joined Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in a brilliant announcement video to confirm the summer friendly between the two clubs. The Reds will face Wrexham as part of their pre-season tour to the United States. The game will take place on July 25 in San Diego.
And Fergie played his part in a video on United's website announcing the contest. In the scene the 81-year-old was on a video call with Reynolds and McElhenney, who are concerned about the Scot's legendary intimidation tactics and mind games.
The Wrexham co-owners try to engage in conversation but are given the silent treatment by Ferguson before Reynolds hangs up on the video call, claiming McElhenney is late for a hair appointment.
READ MORE: Manchester United to face Wrexham in San Diego pre-season friendly
The clip ends with Ferguson, sipping a cup of tea at Old Trafford, telling a member of staff when asked how the call went, that the American acting duo were on mute. "They were on mute, never heard a thing," quipped the United great.
Details of the Stateside game were announced on Monday night. It will be a first meeting between the clubs since an FA Cup tie in January 1995 which United won 5-2.
"This will be the first time the team has visited San Diego, and we are looking forward to playing in front of our passionate US fans at the Snapdragon Stadium," said John Murtough, United's football director. "Pre-season tours are always a great occasion to give opportunities for our most promising young academy players to gain valuable experience in the first team environment, and this match against Wrexham AFC is a great example of that.
"Manchester United has a history of nurturing and promoting youth and this is a chance for not only Erik but also our US supporters to assess the homegrown talent that is developing within our academy, and hopefully to be able to say, 'I saw him here first,' if some of those players go on to establish themselves as first team regulars."
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: "We're looking forward to being able to play in the United States for the first time in the club's history. The match against Manchester United is sure to be a memorable occasion at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego.
"The tour will be an excellent opportunity for us to prepare for the 2023-24 season, and the match against Manchester United will be a competitive fixture and a good test for us as we look ahead to the new campaign.
"We enjoy welcoming supporters from the US to the Racecourse Ground, and we're looking forward to being able to play in front of some of these new fans on American soil in the summer."
Wrexham have been the subject of huge media attention since Reynolds and McElhenney took over the club in 2021, thanks in part to a Disney+ documentary following their time in charge.
United last toured the States during Jose Mourinho's final pre-season in 2018 when they played in Phoenix, Santa Clara, LA, Michigan and Miami. The Portuguese manager infamously complained about 'baseball referees' after United's were thrashed 4-1 by Liverpool. The club had been planning to tour American in 2020 but were unable to due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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