Fernando Torres (C) poses with his new Atletico Madrid jersey with the club's president, Enrique Cerezo (L). (Photo : Reuters)
Size, physical strength and attitude were the most important soccer team attributes for Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil on Friday, as he confirmed the three friendly matches that his Spanish champion team will play in China during the northern summer this year.
According to the chief executive, who did not provide details about opposing teams or venues, the inaugural match will occur on July 28, followed by the second and third on Aug. 1 and 4, respectively.
The news was broadcast after Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin, who is the chair of the prominent Wanda Group business, finalized his acquisition of a 20-percent stake in the Spanish football club, who are the current BBVA Primera Liga trophy holders, for $50 million (45 million euro) at the end of January this year.
Gil, who has been involved with the Atletico soccer name for more than two decades, explained to reporters: "One of our objectives is that the talents, who come over here as part of the Wanda project, will one day play for Atletico. I think it can be achieved."
In addition to the football team traits that he favors, Gil also commended the Spanish team's past footballers as "good professionals" and "talented."
He also declared that Diego Simeone is Atletico Madrid's most valuable player at present, "because he's the only one who can get great performances out of our team."
Known as "Los Colchoneros" at home, the football club also trains a group of young Chinese players to foster the east Asian nation's next generation of talent.
Gil said on Friday that the training program will expand from 30 players in 2015 to 61 during the next term, while the club anticipates more than 100 participants by 2016.
