IS THIS A FOOTBALL CLUB, OR A F**KING CIRCUS?

Chinese striker Dong Fangzhuo has been named to the English club's lineup for its exhibition matches in Hong Kong and Beijing this summer, organizers said in a statement Tuesday.

“I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to pull on the famous red shirt in my home country. It will be a proud moment to play in China as a Manchester United player,” Dong was quoted as saying in the statement.

Manchester United signed the 20-year-old Dong in 2004, but then lent him to Belgian club Royal Antwerp.

“He has been progressing step by step since his arrival and at Royal Antwerp, he deserves the tour and we believe that he will perform well," Manchester United Director of Marketing Peter Draper said in the statement.

Manchester United will play Hong Kong in Hong Kong on July 23 before moving onto Beijing. Details of the Beijing exhibition match weren't immediately available.

Anyone in any doubt as to the quality of this signing should read the following, from the Guardian last December: