DUBAI, Nov 26- It could not have been, by any stretch of the imagination, mistaken for Old Trafford. But by using a rich imagination, some Manchester United magic was sprinkled on a Middle East shopping centre on Sunday.

The jowls were heavier, thighs a little thicker, hair a good deal thinner, but the majesty was unmistakable as the likes of John Barnes and Bryan Robson went head to head on a soccer pitch in Dubai on Sunday.

As a sporting spectacle Dubai's Soccerex 5-a-side tournament was hardly noteworthy, but the kick-around overlooked by high-fashion boutiques served as a timely reminder that soccer and business are bonded closer than ever before and that the business of sport means big bucks.

The mini-tournament - won by the "Manchester United Legends" - kicked off a two-day Soccerex conference where the biggest players in business and sport meet to discuss the industry.

The event will be opened by FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday and figureheads including Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and Real Madrid director Begona Sanz will attend.

"It is an occasion for Asia to welcome the global football business community to our continent," Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam said in a welcome note in the programme.

"Very importantly it brings knowledge to Asia to enhance our own development, facilitating exchanges between Asian and international entities to increase the exposure of Asian football world-wide."

Former England striker Barnes feels the region is ripe for expansion.

"This is good for the Emirates that they can hold an event like this here," he told reporters at the Mall of the Emirates.

"I don't think it will be very long before we see a World Cup here."