AC Milan braces for Shanghai friendly
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2004-05-13 09:11

Newly-crowned Serie A champion AC Milan will play an exhibition game in Shanghai early next month, a Shanghai-bvased sports administration official confirmed Wednesday.

The opponent for the Italian powerhouse is yet to be decided but insiders revealed the game, set for June 2, may mark the beginning of a wave of summer soccer blockbusters in Shanghai.

"Officials from the Italian club have just sealed the deal with the municipal sports administration and the team will take to the field at Shanghai Stadium on June 2," said Lu Shen, head of the Shanghai Football Association.

Despite the fact that Shanghai Stadium is the home ground of Shanghai International, cross-town rival and national league champion Shenhua SVA apparently has a better chance of playing Milan in the match. Shanghai will be the second leg of Milan's tour to the region, after Hong Kong, where it will play another friendly.

But local fans will be deprived of a host of star players from the Italian giant as they will be on national duty for the 2004 European Cup, which kicks off on June 12 in Portugal. But according to Lu, Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, former Italian skipper Paolo Maldini, Brazilian Sergio Serginho and Argentine Fernando Redondo may make the trip though Brazilian playmaker Kaka is doubtful.

Milan first came to Shanghai in 1996, when the team - including Roberto Baggio - edged out Shenhua 1-0 at Hongkou Stadium.

The Italians are not the only ones eying the local market. Spain's star-studded Real Madrid, which made a killing in appearance fee after its trip to China last summer, is planning a return. "This time Real plans to play a match in Shanghai in early August," revealed Lu. "But compared to Milan's fixture, Real's trip is still ambiguous."

European clubs, encouraged by Real's success last year, are thinking of making their fortunes in the country this summer. But the timing may not be right. "The calendar for the next four months is packed - with the European Cup, the Olympics and the Asian Cup," said a soccer business agent who asked not to be identified. "I'll not put my money on trips (by European clubs). The summer road shows, especially the return of Real, will be hamstrung by lack of sponsorship and fans will probably look elsewhere."

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