Manchester United remain just as popular in Asia despite the departure of David Beckham to Real Madrid, the club's chief executive David Gill said on Tuesday.

The lucrative Asian market has been central to United's marketing strategy in recent years. A large proportion of their 53-million strong global fanbase is from the football-loving region where the England captain is also revered.

Gill said there had been no decrease in hits on United's Chinese language website and information from kit manufacturers Nike indicated sales of team shirts were just as strong.

"The Asian market is still very much there for us," Gill told reporters after the club unveiled a 22 percent increase in annual profits. "The website stats hold up."

Gill said the club was carrying out new research to determine the latest figures for its fanbase. The results of the poll would be due within the next two months.

He said United, whose annual turnover was lifted by their pre-season tour of the United States in July, planned a summer tour of Asia in 2005, and there had been no signs of any problems from promoters.

"The promoters have indicated there are no issues... We await with interest the results of the poll," he said.

Some observers questioned United's wisdom in selling the England captain, who cost Real 35 million euros ($41 million), as his move could have a negative impact on future merchandising sales.

Real, who toured Asia with Beckham in August, shortly after the 28-year-old had completed his own promotional trip to the region with his pop star wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, are reported to have already recouped the price they paid for him in shirt sales.

United unveiled pre-tax profits of 39.3 million pounds for the year to July 31, on turnover of 173 million pounds.