Manchester United stars in for the long haul on flight to China for pre-season tour

ONE minute they were suited and booted, the next they looked like they were in holiday mode.

The truth is Manchester United players turned up for their takeaway to China in collar and tie – but soon slipped into something more comfortable.

Spanish teammates Juan Mata and David De Gea were all systems go in their civvies as the team left Manchester airport bound for their pre-season tour.
So, too, were young guns Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard before they switched their garb and changed into their familiar red tracksuits.
Ashley Young and Daley Blind joined in the fun as the lads posed for pictures, complete with a variety of faces and good-natured gestures.
Adnan Januzaj, showing impressive pre-season form, has team up again with new signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The young United midfielder has  previously thanked Mkhitaryan for ‘looking after’ him during last season’s loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

It was a laugh a minute as United prepared for their long haul journey to the Far East and match practise under new manager Jose Mourinho.

Summer signings Eric Bailly and Mkhitaryan were also among those flying to China but, as expected, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will sit out the tour having been given extended leave after playing for Sweden in Euro 2016.

In the morning skipper Wayne Rooney and Rashford joined the United squad at their Carrington training base, linking up with Mourinho for the first time.
The two strikers, as well as England defender Chris Smalling, will sit out the two games on tour with Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, while Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Anthony Martial are all also absent.

United face Dortmund in Shanghai on Friday before meeting bitter rivals City three days later in the capital Beijing.