Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to return to England for the first time since 2008 to watch Monday’s crucial soccer game between Manchester United and Manchester City, his legal aide Noppadon Pattama confirmed yesterday.

British authorities shut Thaksin out in late 2008 after he was found guilty in the Ratchadaphisek land case. Before that, Thaksin had a luxurious residence in London and bought Manchester City Football Club, which he later sold to its current owners.

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