Popular soccer players from international teams are coming to China for the first time this summer to play for the International Champions Cup, a high-profile preseason exhibition tournament, China Daily reported.
As announced by the organizers during the launching ceremony on April 22, Wednesday, the star-studded line-up of players will come from three prestigious European clubs, namely, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Internazionale Milano.
The report said that the tournament was initiated by RSE Ventures and Relevent Sports in 2013 in the United States, which organizers see as an opportunity to connect to the Chinese market in adherence to President Xi Jinping's master plan to boost soccer development from the grassroots to elite professional levels in the country.
"Football is becoming an even more important sport in China, and of course we are very happy about this. We believe China has lots of potential of performing at the highest level in the world. Our view is that as the ICC grows in China, we should engage the grassroots as part of our promotion," Patrick Murphy, a representative of Relevent Sports, said during the launching ceremony.
UEFA Champions League 2013-14 season winner Real Madrid will spearhead the China tournament, whose line-up includes Cristiano Ronaldo, the back-to-back FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, Gareth Bale, Iker Casillas, and Sergio Ramos, among others.
Seven-time Champions League winner AC Milan and three-time Champions League winner Internazionale Milano, which first competed in China during the 2011 Supercoppa in Beijing, is expected to bring the anticipated Milan derby to China.
The report said that the tournament was co-sponsored by local companies LeTV Sports and Guangzhou South Activity Planning Co. Ltd.
AC Milan will be playing against Internazionale Milano at Shenzhen's Longgang Stadium on July 25, while Internazionale Milano will square off against Real Madrid at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou on July 27.
The final match-up between Real Madrid and AC Milan will be held at Shanghai Stadium either on July 29 or 30.