Real Madrid to play exhibition match in South Africa
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Real Madrid to play exhibition match in South Africa
Real Madrid to play exhibition match in South Africa
MADRID, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Real Madrid are planning to play an exhibition match in South Africa early in March, the Spanish champions' sporting director Jorge Valdano said on Tuesday.
"We will be going to South Africa," Valdano told Telemadrid Radio. "At the moment we are still juggling with the dates, but the most likely one is sometime around March 2."
If that date is confirmed, the match will be sandwiched between the first and second leg of Real's Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.
Spanish sports daily As reported on Tuesday that the South African government had offered 10 million euros ($12.75 million) to Real to play the match as part of the country's promotion of its bid to hold the 2010 World Cup.
The paper went on to claim that the agreement included a clause in which Real would guarantee to include leading players such as David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane in the team.
Valdano made it clear that Real saw the exhibition match as an important part of their plans to develop new marketing opportunities.
"It (South Africa) is a new market where Real Madrid can project their international image," he said.
Real are already reported to be planning a tour ahead of next season with possible matches in China, South Korea, Japan and the United States.
MADRID, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Real Madrid are planning to play an exhibition match in South Africa early in March, the Spanish champions' sporting director Jorge Valdano said on Tuesday.
"We will be going to South Africa," Valdano told Telemadrid Radio. "At the moment we are still juggling with the dates, but the most likely one is sometime around March 2."
If that date is confirmed, the match will be sandwiched between the first and second leg of Real's Champions League tie against Bayern Munich.
Spanish sports daily As reported on Tuesday that the South African government had offered 10 million euros ($12.75 million) to Real to play the match as part of the country's promotion of its bid to hold the 2010 World Cup.
The paper went on to claim that the agreement included a clause in which Real would guarantee to include leading players such as David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane in the team.
Valdano made it clear that Real saw the exhibition match as an important part of their plans to develop new marketing opportunities.
"It (South Africa) is a new market where Real Madrid can project their international image," he said.
Real are already reported to be planning a tour ahead of next season with possible matches in China, South Korea, Japan and the United States.
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He who has power over life and death; Second-in-Command to the gods
He who has power over life and death; Second-in-Command to the gods
