With Brazilian world player of the year Ronaldinho in their star-studded ranks Barca expect to rake in around a million euros for each of their four matches.

After facing Mexican league opposition in Monterrey, then across the border in Los Angeles and Houston, Barca will take on New York Red Bulls, regional TV station TV3 said.

Barca, who as well as Ronaldinho have Mexico skipper Rafael Marquez in the squad, headed off Tuesday and will complete their north American tour on August 12 with their final game in New York, just two weeks before the new Liga programme begins.

In the season just ended Barca made a 33 million euros net profit on turnover of 259 million euros and the club hopes to push the latter figure to 300 million in the coming year.

Last week, the organisers of their friendlies tour said more than 100,000 tickets have been sold to see the Catalan club in the United States.

Bitter rivals Real Madrid are also due in the United States this summer as the world's richest club seek to bolster their Stateside profile after concentrating on their Asian franchising in recent years since England star David Beckham joined in 2003.