'We have to do it' - Ruben Amorim explains controversial Manchester United Saudi Arabia proposal

Ruben Amorim has confirmed Manchester United are in discussions over a potential lucrative mid-season friendly as they look to raise additional funds.

United announced record revenue when their latest batch of financial results were released last month, which included record matchday revenue (up 17%), the highest ever levels of ticket sales and memberships, and record commercial revenues (up 10%), after the first year of their new shirt sponsorship with Snapdragon.

However, it could have been even higher. If they had qualified for the Champions League through victory in the Europa League final, they would earn a minimum of £70m in prize money if they had qualified for the league phase, with an additional £1.8m for each victory. Those who each reach the quarter-finals earn roughly £20m extra in prize money, while the winners benefit from an additional £54m.

You can then factor in roughly £5.2m in matchday income, which would mean a guaranteed £20.8m and as much as £41.6m from the Champions League matches they would host. Participation in the competition would also be hugely lucrative from a commercial perspective, with many deals incentivised due to increased publicity from being associated with a Champions League club.

It was estimated earlier this year that even a poor return in the Champions League would earn £100m in revenue when you consider all of those factors, with as much as £140m if they performed well. It is therefore very easy to see why Ratcliffe has demanded a top-five finish in the Premier League this season and a return to the top continental club competition, even if they aren't ready to win it.

United could recoup some of that money by taking part in a mid-season match, with a report this week suggesting a trip to Saudi Arabia could even be on the cards, which raises the possibility of a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. The club ended last season with a trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong that is understood have generated £7.4m in revenue and Amorim admitted a mid-season trip was on the cards amid a lack of European football.

"We have to do it," he said in his latest press conference. "We have to do it. And we knew that when we miss Europe, we have a lot of things, we have our fans, we have the budget, we have to compensate a lot of things. So we have to do it, we will do it. We want to be with our friends around the world. So we are putting all together to do that. We have to do it, that's all. We have to do it. If we have to do it, we have to manage to find the space to do it."

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