English Premier League club Manchester United reinforced its commitment to new sponsor Gulf Oil with some of its players attending one of the said company's events during their ongoing China tour.

The Red Devils are visiting China right now to participate in the 2016 International Champions Cup friendly tournament. They are set to meet Borussia Dortmund on Friday and Premier League rivals Manchester City on Monday in matches at the Shanghai Stadium and Beijing National Stadium respectively.

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While resting from their preseason training, Manchester United players Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera, and newly-acquired Henrikh Mkhitaryan plus the club's ambassador, Denis Irwin, graced an event organized by their new sponsor and partner in the Far East, Gulf Oil.

The company is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts but also has a long history of commerce in China.

Inside World Football reported that the occasion honored a "Wall of history" for both Gulf Oil and United in their dealings with China as the two parties deem that the Far East nation is a "key market" for their products.

In March, Gulf Oil reached a three-year agreement with the Old Trafford giants to become the club's official Global Lubricant Oil and Fuel Retail Partner. Gulf Oil, who is targeting to expand to other Asian countries such as India and Indonesia and also in the Middle East, reportedly believes a partnership with the English top flight club could help them reach their goals in the next three years.

"Our partnership with Manchester United has brought together two brands with incredible heritage and a great future together - and I see many parallels between us," Gulf Oil vice-president Frank Rutten said in his speech.

"And just as United is gearing up for the future - having signed a couple of stellar names, both in the managing and playing area, Gulf is also strengthening its hand, especially here in Asia, where we have just broken ground on a new world class lubricants factory. I remain incredibly excited about the prospect of us both moving forward together," he added.

Meanwhile, The Sun described Rooney, Herrera, and Mkhitaryan's presence in the event as "cringeworthy", saying that the Red Devils captain "pretended to look interested while reading a bottle of lubricant" while "Herrera looked at a helmet embossed with the Gulf logo" while the trio posed with different products of the oil company.

However, Rooney still accommodated the media, saying "I've only had one day (training with new coach Jose Mourinho) since we came out, but it was a very good day, the training session."

Rooney said the looking at Mourinho's past championship teams, the Englishman is hoping that the Portuguese mentor can replicate it with them next season.

"I'm excited. It's a big season for us. The appointment of Jose Mourinho is a big appointment and we're all excited. We've made some fantastic signings too. Hopefully we can have a good start to the season and be successful by the end of it," the United captain added.

TagsChina Football, Manchester United, Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera, Henrikh Mkhitaryan