Manchester United's pre-season friendly against Manchester City in Beijing has been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. The Chinese capital has experienced heavy rainfall in recent days, rendering the pitch at the Bird's Nest stadium unfit for play, according to tournament organisers and both Premier League clubs.
The match, scheduled for the International Champions Cup, was highly anticipated as it would have marked the first managerial encounter between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola since their rivalry in Spain. Both clubs had expressed concerns over the pitch quality in the lead-up to the game, opting to hold pre-match training sessions at alternative venues to preserve the surface.
A statement from Manchester United's official Twitter account confirmed the cancellation, citing recent weather events. Mourinho, speaking to the media outside after a press room was deemed too hot, emphasised player safety, stating: 'We want to keep calm, play safe, go home and keep the preparation going next week. A good result means going home without any injuries.'
United's next pre-season fixture is now against Galatasaray in Gothenburg on July 30, which is set to be their final friendly. Meanwhile, City will face Borussia Dortmund in Shenzhen on July 28 before taking on Arsenal in Sweden on August 7.
