Wrexham AFC, the historic Welsh football club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have reportedly lined up US friendly matches against Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Chelsea this coming summer.
Wrexham’s game against Manchester United will take place in San Diego in July, according to ESPN. The Wrexham-Chelsea match will take place in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on July 19, according to various British media reports.
The first game will be part of United’s already announced 2023 summer pre-season tour of the United States, the first for the club since 2018 and the first under current manager Erik ten Hag. The famous English side are experiencing a resurgent year in their first season under the ten Hags and are coming off a spectacular comeback win over FC Barcelona in the first round of the Europa League knockout stage. United also remain third in the Premier League table behind Arsenal and crosstown rivals Manchester City.
[English Premier League title odds; Man City, not Arsenal, the favorite]
Chelsea’s involvement, however, is a bit more surprising the blues They are in the midst of an off-season, with current manager Graham Potter and former manager Thomas Tuchel having blamed the club’s 2022 summer North American tour and its impact on their pre-season training as to factor in the team’s struggles.
Potter has come under immense criticism in recent weeks as Chelsea have continued to struggle despite US chairman Todd Boehly’s record spending in the January transfer window to bring in a number of big-name players such as Joao Felix and the winner of the World Cup Enzo Fernandez.
[Chelsea manager Graham Potter says he has received death threats]
Wrexham have gained popularity in the United States due to a successful documentary featuring the club and its famous owners, as well as a recent and unlikely run to the fourth round of the English FA Cup, the deepest ever run in the tournament this season for a fifth level. club, before losing to second-tier Sheffield United.
Is Ryan Reynolds involvement with Wrexham GOOD for the sport of football?
Wrexham are also scheduled to take part in a seven-on-seven football tournament in North Carolina at the beginning of June as part of their efforts to gain more support in the United States. The celebrity-studded tournament will feature Reynolds and McElhenney as part of the active roster, as well as a squad full of former USWNT stars and teams led by former USMNT players and World Cup analysts FOX Clint Dempsey, Jimmy Conrad and DeMarcus Beasley.
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