MANCHESTER United’s showpiece pre-season derby against Manchester City was cancelled just hours before kick-off yesterday after recent “extreme” rain made the Beijing pitch unsafe.

“The rain has made it totally unsafe to play on this pitch,” said Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano in a statement.

Organisers of the International Challenge Cup tournament, which also features Borussia Dortmund, confirmed the match had been called off on grounds of player safety.

“The conditions experienced in Beijing on July 19 and July 20 were reported as being some of the most extreme weather conditions the capital of China has experienced in recent history,” said a statement from the organisers.

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