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Chinese Dong to make debut for Man-United in Beijing
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-07-22 21:51

Dong Fangzhuo, the first Chinese being signed by Manchester United, will play his debut for the English premier club in Beijing next week, said team coach Alex Ferguson here on Friday.

Ferguson said Dong would not play in the opening match of theirfour-match pre-season tour against the Chinese Hong Kong on Saturday, but would likely feature in the game against Beijing Hyundai in the Chinese capital next Tuesday.

"I think Dong will play in the game in Beijing and he won't start in Hong Kong match," said Ferguson.

The former English champions signed the promising striker in January, making an initial 500,000 pound (875,000 dollar) down-payment in a deal which could rise to 3.5 million pounds depending on the number of first-team appearances he makes.

Ferguson said: "Dong is a player, like a lot of our young players, who has potential and we hope to develop that potential in the next two or three years,

"As you know we put him into Antwerp in Belgium last year to give him experience and also because of the time to organize a work permit for him to enter Britain. "

Dong was forced to begin his United career on loan to Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp as he did not qualify immediately for a British work permit.

"But in that time he was with us in Belgium -- and he has spent some time with us at the training ground -- we hope to see that development and give him a good career in the game.

"He's a very enthusiastic boy. He's very quick, strong, athletic and I think he's got the material to do well," added Ferguson.



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