Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Man United to play A-League all-stars

Updated at 7:17 pm on 10 December 2012

Manchester United are not only now six points clear at the top of the English Premier League, the Manchester football giants will head down under next July to face an A-League All Stars squad.

United beat crosstown rivals Manchester City 3-2 in their neighbours' backyard on Monday, inflicting the first loss of the season on the champions at Etihad Stadium, where City had not lost in the league for almost two years.

The pre-season friendly match at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on July the 20th marks United's return to Australia for the first time in 14 years.

Organisers say the Red Devils will bring their full squad with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie set to play in front of a certain sell-out crowd.

The club last played in Australia in 1999, against the Socceroos in both Sydney and Melbourne, but big names including the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and manager Sir Alex Ferguson were left at home.

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