There are midday canapés, a DJ with devil horns and red face paint, as well as seats marked 'VIP' in front of a mini football pitch. Manchester United launched their first Adidas kit in 23 years in Manchester's Northern Quarter last year, yet while Mancunians sleep or navigate their way back home after a Friday night on Deansgate Locks, Shanghai is hosting the official unveiling of this season's new home strip.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is flanked by 10 teammates as they emerge from a blanket of smoke, donned in the full garb, marshalled by Jose Mourinho. Mkhitaryan's former club, Borussia Dortmund, are popular in China and boast a higher average attendance than United but do not have the clout to generate such a buzz over a shirt design.
Some of the players, unaccustomed to the glitz, struggle to hide their weariness as Mourinho is asked a string of banal questions and two Adidas employees proudly speak about the design of the kit. Jesse Lingard, looking stultified, mutters something to Marcus Rashford, who seems too drowsy to respond.
While Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Daley Blind are obliged to engage in a freestyle battle, Mkhitaryan heads backstage with David de Gea and Eric Bailly for media duties. The music is still blaring in the background but Mkhitaryan puts the huddled reporters at ease by quickly showcasing his excellent English. Surrounded by inquisitors, he holds court as impressively as he holds onto the ball.
The Armenian uses 'dream' and its derivatives six times to describe his recent transfer. Mkhitaryan was only seven when his father, a professional footballer in Armenia, died at the tragically young age of 33 from a brain tumour and the memory of Hamlet Mkhitaryan is a major inspiration for his son.
“He was my drive,” he says. “So he was my motivation because when I was young he was playing football professionally and I was always dreaming to go with him to the training ground, but in one case I couldn't understand that I would disturb him during training because I was a child.
“Because of him when we came back to Armenia it was my dream to continue his work and to also be a football player.
“He was 33-years-old (when he passed away), I was seven-years-old at the time so, yes, it is a pity but that's life. The life continues and I hope he is proud looking at me from the sky, so I try to do everything to make him proud.”
His father would have been an invaluable confidant when Mkhitaryan turned professional.
“I'm sad because I think he could have helped me with his words and his support,” he concedes. “But that's life. I'm trying to do everything with my family members, my friends, who are watching me every day, every game I am playing, so they are trying to help me to say what I did wrong and what I did well and I try to improve myself.”
Mkhitaryan is from, in his own words, a 'football family'. His mother worked for the Armenia Football Federation and his sister is employed by Uefa. His father's death helped him grow up faster while his mother did her utmost to try and fill the gaping void in the family's lives.
“It is very difficult when you grow up without a father," he explains thoughtfully. "Because in the family you don't have a real man who can give you direction, discipline, but in one case my mother was my mother and father, so I am thankful to her and I am thankful to all the people who were next to me at the time in a hard moment.
“So the life continues and I am trying to learn something new from the people and getting into football.”
Mourinho specified in Shanghai Mkhitaryan was the 'creative signing' he had prioritised. The Portuguese watched him play for Dortmund at Werder Bremen with Rui Faria in February, a day after several outlets reported talks between Mourinho and United. The match ended goalless but Mkhitaryan was recognised as the Bundesliga Player of the Year.
“It means I did something good in my life,” Mkhitaryan says of United's interest. “And I could join a new championship in the Premier League, so I was very happy and finally I said someone could see the work I did last year.”
Mkhitaryan's former Dortmund teammates, Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj, have both failed to meet the demands of United supporters. Mkhitaryan did not consult the Japanese on United after he was informed of their interest, but Kagawa's struggles are noted by United's new No.22: “You have to try and do everything to show your best qualities otherwise you will not be here anymore.”
There is a huge onus on Mkhitaryan to make United entertaining again.
“I never promise something, I always say that I will try,” he stresses. “Because if you promise something and you don't do you will always be under pressure, so that is why I'm trying to say I will do all my best and I will try to help Manchester because, for me, this is a new challenge and I like difficulties. I like to win the difficulties because when you win the difficulties it makes you stronger, so I'm trying to do everything to come up to a new level.”
Mkhitaryan refuses to allow supporters' expectations and a hefty transfer fee to leave him feeling flustered. The Shanghai heat is pushing 40 but there is not a bead of sweat on his forehead as he offers a humble admission.
“It doesn't matter if they buy me for, I don't know, 38million or 40million, I am not guaranteed to play the games,” Mkhitaryan shrugs. “So I am trying to do my best during the training to earn this place to play and then we will see.
“Because I don't think I will play every game, depending on the tactical situation, depending on the opponent, but I will do everything to try and help the team.
“After my football career I want to sit down and think I did something good, I won this title, I won this title, because that's the history and if you retire after your football career, the people will talk about your titles and that is the most important thing in football.”
Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are both represented by Mino Raiola and, although the discussion does not switch to another of his eminent clients, Mkhitaryan becomes giddy when the Swede's name is mentioned.
"He's an amazing player," Mkhitaryan says of Ibrahimovic. "The name says everything for himself, the words are just, like, no matter. No comment. I think for me it will be easy to play with him because he is a high-quality player, he knows how to keep the ball, how to play with it and how to create space for the others so I'm waiting to work with him."
Will he make your life easier?
"Not only my life but the team's life!"
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