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Once Kings of Asia, Manchester United Now Face Fading Glory in the East

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Manchester United fans in Malaysia during a previous tour — still loyal, but increasingly outnumbered by younger supporters turning to clubs like City and Liverpool.

After a season of setbacks and a Europa League final defeat, Manchester United’s Asian tour reveals shifting fan loyalties, rising competition, and hopes for a future rebuild

Manchester United’s latest post-season tour to Asia, beginning this week in Kuala Lumpur, comes at a time when the club’s global appeal—especially in its long-time stronghold of Asia—is under unprecedented strain. What once felt like a coronation of the Premier League’s most beloved team has become a quiet reckoning for a side that, despite its brand power, is increasingly outpaced both on the pitch and in the hearts of fans.

A decade after their last Premier League title and in the wake of a crushing Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, the Red Devils find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory—not just in the Premier League standings, where they finished a disastrous 15th, but also in fan sentiment abroad. The club’s enduring commercial muscle in the Asia-Pacific region, where it earned an estimated £8 million from just two friendly matches, masks a sobering truth: Manchester United’s dominance is slipping.

The signs are clear in the stadiums. While over 40,000 tickets were snapped up quickly for the match at Kuala Lumpur’s 84,000-seat Bukit Jalil Stadium, thousands of seats remain unsold—a stark contrast to the team’s triumphant 2009 tour that saw sellouts and frenzied crowds. Even in football-loving regions like Thailand and Hong Kong, enthusiasm has cooled. “Some of the loyal fan base who can afford to go will go,” said Bangkok-based supporter Narinpaj Bunyavirapan. “But I guess they are not excited—they will go just to cheer up the players.”

Part of the issue lies in the rise of rivals. Clubs like Liverpool and Manchester City have capitalized on both domestic success and global marketing to reshape the fan landscape. “Under Klopp, Liverpool weren’t just winning—they were cool,” observed Mumbai-based fan Rahul Singh. “Why choose to support a team that loses a lot?”

In South Korea, where United once reigned supreme thanks to Park Ji-sung, interest has pivoted toward Tottenham Hotspur, largely due to the enduring brilliance of Son Heung-min. “A large portion of Korean fans are more interested in Tottenham now,” noted author Lee Seung-mo. Meanwhile, Brighton’s rise in Japan is fueled by Kaoru Mitoma, while Leicester City enjoys support in Thailand thanks to King Power’s ownership.

The once-unquestioned loyalty to Manchester United is, for many younger fans, becoming a matter of practicality and excitement. “My friend tried to buy United jerseys for his sons,” Bunyavirapan shared. “They picked City shirts instead.”

Still, amidst this quiet exodus, glimmers of belief remain. Veteran fans, particularly those who grew up watching United during their 1990s and 2000s glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson, remain fiercely loyal. “They are still a special club in Korea with more hardcore fans than even Liverpool or Chelsea,” Lee said. The criticisms, the debates, the frustration—they’re all signs that the Red Devils still matter.

And for those who stay loyal, hope isn’t entirely extinguished. As Bunyavirapan poignantly put it, “The downfall started when Ferguson left and now it is broken, like a collapsed building. But we believe it can be built stronger than before. We just have to wait.”

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Personality

Net Worth of Neymar Jr in 2025 Shows Why He Remains One of Football’s Richest Superstars

From Santos to PSG to global brand deals, Neymar Jr’s wealth reflects his journey as one of football’s most marketable icons

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Neymar Jr
Neymar Jr during a media event, representing both his footballing legacy and powerful global brand presence.(Source: Getty Image)

Neymar Jr has firmly secured his place as one of the wealthiest footballers in the world. As of 2025, the Brazilian superstar’s estimated net worth stands between $220 million to $250 million, making him not only one of Brazil’s highest-paid athletes but a global brand in himself.

Neymar Jr: (Credit: Getty Image)

Born Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, the forward burst onto the scene with Santos FC before earning a blockbuster move to FC Barcelona in 2013, where he formed the iconic MSN trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. But it was his record-shattering transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 — for a world-record fee of €222 million ($263 million USD) — that launched his earnings into the stratosphere.

At PSG, Neymar’s annual salary was reportedly around $70 million, including bonuses. Combined with endorsements from Puma, Red Bull, Qatar Airways, Triller, and Epic Games, his total yearly income often crossed $90 million, placing him consistently in Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

But Neymar’s financial empire extends far beyond the pitch. He has launched his own fragrance line, invested in eSports through Team Fluxo, and even dabbled in NFTs and cryptocurrency. His social media presence — with over 220 million followers on Instagram alone — adds significant commercial value, with brands paying top dollar for collaborations and visibility.

Neymar Jr

Since leaving PSG in 2023 and returning to his boyhood club Santos, Neymar’s base salary has significantly decreased, but his commercial ventures and legacy contracts continue to generate millions annually. Even sidelined by injuries or illnesses like his recent COVID-19 diagnosis, Neymar’s net worth remains largely unaffected due to long-term sponsorships and investments.

Moreover, Neymar has earned millions from performance bonuses, goal incentives, and image rights deals negotiated across his club and international career. With 79 goals for Brazil, he is the nation’s all-time leading scorer, further adding to his marketability and endorsement appeal.

Despite a turbulent few seasons filled with fitness concerns and controversies, Neymar remains a financial powerhouse, proving that his influence stretches well beyond 90 minutes on the field.

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Sports

Barcelona Goalkeeper War Explodes as Ter Stegen Refuses to Be Pushed Aside

Marc-André ter Stegen is furious with Barcelona’s pursuit of Joan Garcia and vows to fight for his place under Hansi Flick

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Marc-André ter Stegen during training with Germany — a man determined to reclaim his place at Barcelona

Tensions are boiling over at Camp Nou as Marc-André ter Stegen, one of Barcelona’s longest-serving players, finds himself in the eye of a storm. According to Spanish outlet SPORT, the German shot-stopper is “absolutely outraged” by the club’s decision to recruit Espanyol’s Joan Garcia, which could relegate him to a third-choice role behind Wojciech Szczęsny.

After spending much of the 2024–25 season sidelined due to a serious patellar tendon injury, Ter Stegen managed just nine appearances. In his absence, Szczęsny stepped in and impressed manager Hansi Flick, who reportedly sees the Polish veteran as a more reliable presence heading into next season.

Now, with 23-year-old Joan Garcia set to arrive from cross-town rivals Espanyol, it’s clear that Barcelona is not merely adding depth — they’re restructuring their entire goalkeeping hierarchy. And that hasn’t gone down well with Ter Stegen, who views the move as a “direct attack on his professional character.”

The Mission to Stay
Far from backing down, the Germany No. 1 is reportedly “ready to go to war” to keep his place in the squad. Insiders suggest that his once-solid relationship with Flick has deteriorated, especially after the coach allegedly blocked his swift return to the pitch despite being fit.

The Bigger Picture
Ter Stegen’s frustration is not just about playing time — it’s about legacy. Having been a cornerstone of Barcelona’s squad since 2014, the idea of being pushed aside without a fair chance has hit hard. Club director Deco is now tasked with managing the fallout and offering explanations to the goalkeeper, who remains under contract and fully committed to the Catalan giants — for now.

Adding fuel to the fire, Szczęsny is expected to sign a contract extension soon, locking him in as a senior figure. That, combined with the imminent signing of Garcia, paints a grim outlook for Ter Stegen’s future between the sticks at Camp Nou.

What’s Next?
For now, Ter Stegen is focusing on international duty, representing Germany in the Nations League third-place play-off against France. But once the whistle blows on that match, all eyes will return to Barcelona, where this goalkeeper saga promises more drama.

With his pride, status, and possibly his future in Catalonia on the line, Ter Stegen isn’t going quietly. And with preseason looming, Barcelona could be facing a locker-room clash that threatens to unravel the harmony Flick was trying to build.

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Sports

Why Everyone Calls AB de Villiers Mr 360 and How He Earned Cricket’s Most Unique Nickname

The South African legend’s unmatched shot-making ability around the wicket made him the face of fearless cricket and the origin of the term “Mr. 360”

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AB de Villers
AB de Villiers unleashes one of his signature “360-degree” shots, redefining the art of modern-day batting.

In a sport defined by tradition, technique, and textbook strokes, one man bent the rules of convention to create a new language of batting — AB de Villiers. Nicknamed “Mr. 360”, the South African maestro earned this title not just for flair, but for revolutionizing how cricket could be played in every direction of the ground.

AB de Villers (South African Cricketer)



So why exactly do fans and pundits across the globe call him Mr. 360? The answer lies in his incredible ability to hit the ball to every part of the field — from behind the wicket to deep square leg, from third man to long on — like a compass with no limitations. Whether it was a ramp shot over the keeper’s head, a reverse sweep to fine leg, or a straight six on one knee, de Villiers made the cricket field his personal canvas.

AB’s rise to this legendary status wasn’t by accident. He combined textbook technique with outrageous innovation, blending classical cover drives with audacious scoops and flicks that had bowlers scratching their heads. In limited-overs cricket especially, he thrived under pressure, changing the tempo of the game in a matter of deliveries. His fearless mindset allowed him to do what few others dared — invent shots on the go and deliver them with match-winning consistency.

AB de Villers

Statistically, the numbers back the nickname. In ODIs, de Villiers scored over 9,500 runs at an average above 50 and a strike rate of nearly 101, one of the best for a player with that volume of runs. He holds the record for the fastest ODI 50 (16 balls), 100 (31 balls), and 150 (64 balls) — a record-breaking spree that stunned the cricketing world and earned him cult-like status.

One of his most memorable “360” moments came during an IPL match for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he toyed with bowlers like it was a backyard game, launching deliveries over every angle of the boundary. Even Virat Kohli, his long-time RCB teammate and former Indian captain, once said, “AB is the best batsman in the world. I’ve seen him do things no one else can even imagine.”

But what truly made AB de Villiers special — beyond the nickname — was his humility and sportsmanship. Despite his almost superhero-like batting abilities, he remained grounded, respected by teammates and rivals alike. Off the field, he was equally talented — a multi-sport athlete who also excelled in golf, rugby, and tennis.

Even after retirement, the “Mr. 360” legacy lives on. Young cricketers across the globe study his technique, imitate his shots, and aspire to bring the same level of creativity to their game. AB de Villiers didn’t just earn a nickname; he sparked a revolution in modern cricket that continues to inspire the next generation.

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