LOCAL Manchester United fans had a rare chance to see their heroes up close this week after the team flew into Los Angeles at the start of their US tour.
New coach Louis Van Gaal took the squad for a quick photo op on a local beach in Santa Monica after their jet touched down at LAX on Friday, before the team headed to the Beverly Wilshire hotel.
Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Darren Fletcher later mingled with fans as Japan star Shinji Kagawa signed autographs for fans outside the hotel.
Rooney and Juan Mata also enjoyed a trip to the famous Beverly Hills sign as the attacking pair posed for photographs before chatting to MUTV.
And the team certainly looks on their way to putting last season’s indifferent form behind them, brushing aside the Los Angeles Galaxy 7-0 on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Club executive Ed Woodward has been at pains to let fans – and investors – know the club are willing to spend whatever it takes to propel the club back to European football’s top table, claiming that United would break the world transfer record for the right player.
Van Gaal has already spent upwards of £50million on Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera, but the Dutchman looks set to add more faces before the season begins, having been linked with
Arturo Vidal, Daley Blind, Kevin Strootman and Thomas Vermaelen since taking charge in May.
Van Gaal is already making space for new acquisitions by off loading Patrice Evra, who finalized his move Juventus on Monday.
Woodward said of Van Gaal’s player warchest: ‘There is no fixed budget. Financially we are extremely strong, we have funds available…
‘Louis is the boss and is assessing what’s going on but we have been in dialogue for some time about targets so there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes… we’re continuing to move forward on some of those targets… so watch this space.
The time he (Van Gaal) spends here as well (in America) he’ll be able to assess more what he’s got and continue to tweak the decisions if we need to.
‘We want to do what it takes to win the title.’
United finished seventh under David Moyes last year, meaning they will be without European football this term for the first time in almost two decades.
Woodward does not believe that will put potential signings off a move to Old Trafford, though.
He added: ‘I’ve experienced a lot of conversations with agents and players and we are still a huge attraction to top football stars around the world – there is no doubt about that.
‘We’ve already invested in two new fantastic players.’
United insiders are in confident mood that the club will able to compete with crosstown rivals City, Chelsea and Liverpool, pointing out that their reduced fixture schedule will aid them in their pursuit of the league title.
