United's Indian summer: China is conquered, they're big in Japan, now it's time for the jewel in the crown

, however, have long since been prepared to break fresh ground and push the boundaries that bit further.

A recap of United's recent summer tour destinations reads like a travel log that Alan Whicker may have put together.

Conquering her: Wayne Rooney is given a warm welcome as he arrives for a training in Durban

Australia, America, China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa and, by Sunday, Nigeria will all have been ticked off the travel itinerary in the last 10 years. And United are now preparing to add one of the few untapped territories to their roster - India.

United chief executive David Gill said last night: 'India is certainly interesting.

'We've been approached to go there and we are looking at some soccer school opportunities. We would not rule out going. It's a very wealthy country and is definitely worth looking at.'

Despite Gill's refusal to commit United publicly, Sportsmail understands a visit to the sub-continent will happen within two years.

United's research tells them they have 12 million supporters in India and within six months they hope that many will hold club credit cards. Clearly, there is potential. There is certainly money. And, historically, United have never been slow to make the most of both.

'Look at the IPL cricket league,' added Gill. 'That has shown India is a very wealthy country. Other clubs will look at it and so will we. They do have ambitions and have a key goal to make the next World Cup. It's a huge, huge country.'

Exotic pre-season travel is not new to the modern footballer. Chelsea are in China, Portsmouth are waiting for United in Nigeria on Sunday and even West Ham have just completed fixtures in America.

Of the large Premier League clubs, only Arsenal have routinely managed to resist the fortunes on offer overseas. Arsene Wenger will simply not allow his players to travel across time zones during pre-season.

Manchester Pirates: South African Manchester United supporters during the game against Orlando Pirates

United, though, are the market leaders and the innovators.

Wherever their rivals go in July each summer, the chances are that United will have been there first. Although Liverpool and more recently Chelsea have a presence, it is Britain's biggest club that has very much drawn the prototype.

The present tour of South Africa, for example, is United's second in three years. In Korea, meanwhile, an astonishing 250,000 people hold United credit cards and even more watch the club's in-house MUTV channel. Gill added: 'The interest in football around the world is still increasing.

'It is not saturated. Well, we don't think so. We've worked on our global position for many years but it would be wrong to think that we are impregnable.

'If we did that then we would get knocked off our perch. We are certainly comfortable with our position, however.' United have failed just once in recent years.

Successive trips to America in 2003 and 2004 - and a much-publicised commercial partnership with the New York Yankees baseball franchise - yielded very little and the club, even under American ownership, have all but given up. India will certainly be a challenge but United believe they have a head start with segments of some MUTV broadcasts already available to millions of GOALTV1 subscribers across the country.

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Nevertheless, they will have to exercise some diplomacy. In May, Bayern Munich played an exhibition match in front of 100,000 at Calcutta Cricket Ground and opened a soccer academy in West Bengal.

The visit was not an unqualified success, however, with some media and football figures suggesting that it had done nothing for the prospects of Indian football in the long-term.

'It was like a soap opera when they came,' said one India FA source. 'A soap opera designed to make Bayern Munich money.' It is a moot point and an indication that quick, one-match visits just leave a sour taste.

Even United would not deny that the financial rewards - in the short and the long-term - underpin every single pre-season venture, but it will be interesting to see how Sunday's fleeting visit to Nigeria will be received.

The game will earn United in the region of £1.5m and they are not even staying overnight. It is football's equivalent of a smash and grab raid.

'It's a first and there is a huge following there - about 14 million fans,' said Gill.

To traditionalists, this rather naked pursuit of the world's football-related cash may appear unpalatable. But in the modern climate there are few clubs in Europe who would not swap places with the European champions.

They have made mistakes on tour over the years but these days manage to strike the right balance between the football, their commercial obligations and commitments to local charities and communities.

Why they fail to publicise their players' visits to orphanages, soccer schools and - on this trip - townships remains a mystery. With the help of the UNICEF charity, these do happen and are undoubtedly admirable.

This summer South Africa. Next stop India.

How long before they are wearing Manchester United shirts on the moon?