Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid is coming to Melbourne as part of a "feast" of int'l football next July, according to Ben McKay of the AAP. The int'l friendlies, part of the Int'l Champions Cup, will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from July 18-24. The reigning European champion and "FIFA Club of the 20th Century" will be joined by a Premier League team and a Serie A side. Organizers said the other teams, "rumored to be" Man City and Inter Milan, "would be revealed in the next few weeks" (AAP, 11/24). ABC reported the event "was confirmed on Monday morning by the Victorian Sports Minister Damien Drum." Drum said he expected the three fixtures would generate around A$50M ($43M) to the local economy (ABC, 11/23). In Sydney, Ray Gatt reported organizers "could face issues over teams bringing their best players." The Victorian Government has committed A$10M for the three-team event. While Ronaldo, one of the world’s "most recognisable
sportsmen, is certain to be part of the Real squad, doubts have been
raised over the ability of the clubs to bring full-strength squads"
because they will have players involved in a major int'l
tournament. If Man City and Inter Milan are confirmed as the other
participants, "as many as 16 players from the three clubs are likely to
be affected because of their potential involvement in the Copa America," which will be held in Chile from June 11-July 4 (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/25).
AUDI CUP: In Madrid,
José Félix Díaz reported with trips to Australia and China "already confirmed," Real Madrid is set to close a deal with Bayern Munich to play in the Audi Cup. The tournament will be played in early Aug. '15 between four teams
and, along with the host, Real Madrid is the "only side confirmed at
the moment." Real will "commit to playing two matches" during its stay in
Munich: the semifinals, "in which they will not face the German
champions, and then either the final or the 3rd-place decider." The team's presence at the Allianz Arena during the first week of August will put €3M ($3.7M) into its coffers. Real execs expect to raise €12M ($14.9M)-€15M ($18.7M) from the
games and events next summer (MARCA, 11/24).
