CONMEBOL President Juan Angel Napout announced that South America will hold a U20 Copa Libertadores similar to the European Youth League. The news emerged during a CONMEBOL Congress in Paraguay, where it was confirmed that Napout will remain president until '19. The youth tournament will be held every two years, "although details have not been announced about the format, qualification or start date" (MARCA, 3/5). ... Real Madrid has "no intention" of allowing the final of the Copa del Rey between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao to be played at the Santiago Bernabéu. Two years ago Real issued a statement to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) noting its "desire not to hold any more finals in their home stadium," and that included playing them as well as organizing them. The club's position on the matter has not "changed since then as it hasn't offered to host this year's final." In the "other big European leagues, the cup final has a permanent home: in England it is held at Wembley, in Italy Rome's Stadio Olimpico is the annual venue, and in Germany the Olympic Stadium of Berlin is used to stage the event" (MARCA, 3/5). ... Atlético Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín on Thursday confirmed that the club will play in three friendlies in China this summer, on July 28, Aug. 1 and Aug. 4. He also said that the club's youth program for Chinese footballers, which includes 30 players this year, "will expand in the next three seasons." Next year's program will have 61 players and there will be more than 100 in '16 (EFE, 3/5).
