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Sandy • If you're scouring for tickets to catch Manchester United in suburban Salt Lake City this summer, you better not lollygag much longer. They'll soon be gone.

Real Salt Lake's upcoming friendly against one of the most popular sports franchises across the globe is already one of the hottest tickets of the summer.

Ticket sales for the July 17 match at Rio Tinto Stadium were open to the general public Tuesday. Already in such high demand, more than 17,500 tickets were sold prior to opening to the public this week, according to Trey Fitz-Gerald, vice president of broadcasting and public relations at RSL.

RSL season-ticket holders were able to purchase tickets starting March 28, starting at $50 apiece. Prices since have doubled as general public opportunities opened Tuesday with tickets at Rio Tinto starting at $100. There are currently 13 price tiers for the Manchester United match, ranging anywhere from $100 to $850 a seat.

Tuesday was a sign that remaining tickets won't last long. Fitz-Gerald said RSL sold as many as 500 tickets on the first day seats were made available to the general public. Rio Tinto Stadium's new capacity sits at 20,180. Fitz-Gerald said RSL can also sell anywhere from 500 to 700 standing-room-only tickets for the match.

During its tour of the United States this summer, Manchester United is scheduled to face RSL, L.A. Galaxy, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and rival Manchester City. The friendly is slated for an 8 p.m. kickoff in Sandy and is set to be broadcast on ESPN2.

One of the world's biggest spenders, United could feature new signings to go along with a roster that already features Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, among others. Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic will likely be an unfortunate absence as the 35-year-old star recently underwent knee surgery in the U.S.

"The contract says they'll bring their greats," RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen said at the announcement in March.

Glad's U-20 status

Justen Glad participated in Real Salt Lake's training session Wednesday in Sandy a day after being named to the U.S. U-20 World Cup squad. The 20-year-old center back has been slowly rehabbing the knee injury he suffered at the CONCACAF Championship in Costa Rica the first week of March.

Glad is one of five RSL academy products to make the World Cup roster. While most of the team left Wednesday to start their training camp in Japan, the RSL defender is working with his club a few extra days. RSL coach Mike Petke said he has kept in close contact with U-20 coach Tab Ramos in recent days.

"We all want what's best for Justen, and it's all about that fine line between wanting him to get this experience and pushing him too hard," Petke said.

On a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Ramos said with both Glad and Tottenham defender Cameron Carter-Vickers being called in while battling injury, there's a possibility one of them won't make it to South Korea. The U-20s start their World Cup road on May 22 against Ecuador.

More moves coming

RSL general manager Craig Waibel anticipates more roster moves coming this summer once the transfer window opens up again in July. RSL on Tuesday announced the signing of Venezuelan forward Jefferson Savarino.

"We've already started dealing with [moves in the new window]," Waibel said, "and we've already identified and are pursuing a couple players right now."

ckamrani@sltrib.com Twitter: @chriskamrani —

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