Man Utd trio Harry Maguire, Andre Onana and Diogo Dalot set to visit India

IANS May 16, 2025 504 views

Manchester United stars Harry Maguire, Andre Onana, and Diogo Dalot are preparing to visit India for the first time to promote the United We Play initiative. Scheduled to debut in Mumbai on May 29, the trio will engage with local youth to kickstart the fifth season of this grassroots football program. The initiative, backed by Apollo Tyres, aims to inspire young Indian footballers by providing a platform for skill showcasing and introducing global training techniques. Previous visits have successfully reached thousands of players, fostering an enduring connection between Manchester United and its Indian fanbase.

"We are looking forward to engaging with everyone in India to launch..." - Andre Onana
Man Utd trio Harry Maguire, Andre Onana and Diogo Dalot set to visit India
New Delhi, May 16: Manchester United stars Harry Maguire, Andre Onana and Diogo Dalot are gearing up for their maiden visit to India, to launch United We Play 2025, the fifth season of its flagship grassroots football initiative.

Key Points

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Maguire Onana Dalot debut in India for United We Play

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Initiative backed by Apollo Tyres since 2022

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Focus on grassroots football and global training methods

This is the second time that Apollo Tyres has got current team players to the country, with David De Gea, Anthony Elanga and Donny van de Beek visiting Goa in December 2022.

The three Manchester United current team players will be in Mumbai on May 29 to officially launch and kickstart activities for the fifth season of the United We Play programme. During their first visit to India, the footballers will also engage with supporters and fans of the Club.

Manchester United’s goalkeeper,Onana, said, “We are looking forward to engaging with everyone in India to launch the new season of United We Play and promote our sport to the next generation of stars. We are also excited to see the fans over there, to thank them for their passionate and loyal support.”

Supported by Manchester United, United We Play is a pan-India initiative to support young footballers in India by giving them a platform to showcase their skills with the objective of motivating aspiring footballers to continue playing, by engaging with them, and introducing them to global training methods.

Rajesh Dahiya, Vice President, Commercial (India, SAARC and Southeast Asia), Apollo Tyres Ltd said, “The fourth season of United We Play concluded last year with a visit from Manchester United legend Gary Neville, wherein more than 15,000 young footballers from across the country participated. It reached out to 18 cities pan-India and over 100 coaches were engaged through virtual Manchester United Soccer Schools training sessions, ensuring that the teachings and training methods reached every footballer involved in the programme”

Reader Comments

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Pranav K.
Finally some big football names coming to India! 🇮🇳⚽ This is exactly what our young footballers need - exposure to international standards. Hope they conduct some actual training sessions and not just PR events. The 2022 visit was too short!
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Ananya R.
As a die-hard United fan from Kolkata, I'm so excited! But why only Mumbai? India is huge - they should visit at least 2-3 cities. Our football crazy Northeast would give them the warmest welcome! #GGMU
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Rahul S.
Great initiative but I hope they focus more on developing local talent than just brand promotion. Our ISL teams should collaborate with such programs for long-term impact. Football needs grassroots development, not just celebrity visits.
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Sanjana M.
Maguire coming to India? Hope our defenders learn how to head the ball like him! 😄 On a serious note, this program should include more girls too. Women's football is growing fast in India and needs equal attention.
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Vikram J.
While I appreciate these visits, I wish our own football federation would do more. Why do we always need foreign clubs to develop our talent? The AIFF should take notes from this and implement similar programs year-round.
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Neha P.
Excited to see Dalot! As a Goan, I remember how electric the atmosphere was when De Gea visited. Hope they try some local food - the players should experience real Mumbai vada pav and not just 5-star hotel food! 😋

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