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Report: Mourinho to take Manchester United to California next summer

Phil Noble / Reuters

Manchester United will reportedly be crossing the Atlantic Ocean once again.

According to ESPN FC's Mark Ogden, United is set to train in California next year as part of its preparations for the 2017-18 Premier League season. The Special One is apparently already making plans to use UCLA's sports facility, which he visited six times over the course of his managerial days at Chelsea, Internazionale, and Real Madrid.

As part of the trip to the United States, United will allegedly take part in the International Champions Cup and play four fixtures. The visit could last up to three weeks.

Mourinho's request was reportedly approved by United, and John Alexander, the Red Devils' secretary, spent last week in Los Angeles visiting UCLA and "fine-tuning logistics ahead of the proposed July trip." The Portuguese tactician apparently prefers the United States' western coast as a result of its more predictable climate.

Prior to the 2016-17 season, United travelled to China. Things went wrong from the moment United touched down in the country, as the club experienced a two-hour wait despite being taken to a private entrance into customs. A Manchester derby was then cancelled "in the interest of player safety" following "extreme weather events" that forced the Red Devils' plane to make an emergency landing.

Related: China's Manchester derby called off

"It is almost the end and we can go home and train in conditions where players are safe," Mourinho said toward the end of the adventure. The Special One's plan to visit California is allegedly aimed at avoiding the chaos that marred United's trip to China.

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