Manchester United top officials visit East Bengal Club for possible friendly in Kolkata next year

Kolkata: To celebrate East Bengal’s 100 years of existence, Premier League giants Manchester United could play a pre-season friendly against I-League giants in the month of July or the first week of August next year.

Four Manchester United officials visited the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday to check on the infrastructure, and were left impressed. They will now talk to their management back in Manchester and get back on whether to take on the red and golds next year or not.

“They were very impressed with our facilities. They went to the Salt Lake Stadium too. Now they will take a call and let us know whether to play a friendly with us or not,” said East Bengal club official Debabrata Sarkar.

Reacting to the development, I-League CEO Sunando Dhar told IANS: “If they come, nothing like it. East Bengal are one of the biggest clubs in India and they are celebrating their 100 years. A match against Manchester United would be just ideal.”

East Bengal take on Real Kashmir in their I-League opener on December 4 at Kalyani in West Bengal.