For top teams, pre-season tours are now just cross-continental marketing campaigns. No longer are clubs content with hopping on a MegaBus Gold to thrash some UK small-timers – now they’re tasked with slinging shirts and branded bed covers across Asia and North America.
It’s basically a chance for moneymaking photo ops and a bit of a kick-around, if time allows.
That being said, Manchester United and Real Madrid have just taken the exercise to an embarrassing new low.
Manchester United and Real Madrid led out in a pre-season friendly by…
..
Ronald McDonald pic.twitter.com/FcOKIFagk1— BigSport (@BigSportGB) July 23, 2017
Yep, that’s Ronald McDonald, leading the clubs out at the Levi’s stadium in Santa Clara, California. Here he is shaking the players’ hands. They look mortified, obviously.
¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/OMQqwLynLJ
— Priya Ramesh (@Priya8Ramesh) July 23, 2017
Needless to say, Twitter had a few things to say about the guest appearance:
Fellaini starts pic.twitter.com/FMFVLTB29M
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 23, 2017
Watching the players shake hands with Ronald McDonald. So many potential jokes, only 140 characters. But, fuck me, football's in a bad way.
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) July 23, 2017
Look at that clown with the stupid hair shaking hands with Ronald McDonald #Fellaini pic.twitter.com/u7t0Kxz9wU
— Alexandra Coe (@fakeAVB) July 23, 2017
If you've ever lost hope in life, just know that Ronald McDonald got to shake hands with some of the best players in the world… pic.twitter.com/6P5nLerpW8
— JustRedDevils (@JustRedDevils) July 23, 2017
Ronald McDonald would have buried Fellaini what on earth is thispic.twitter.com/8JRsAi0vgF
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) July 23, 2017
Today's appearance by Ronald McDonald was, of course, not the first time Manchester United have been led out by a clown. pic.twitter.com/dc6sQtlQ55
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) July 23, 2017
The match ended 1-1, FYI – fitting, when you consider that there are no winners in this situation.
