皇冠体育app

(From left to right) Luis Fernandez, an executive from Real Madrid's Beijing office, retired AC Milan legend Franco Baresi and Javier Zanetti, retired former Internazionale Milano captain, answer questions at the press conference to launch the inaugural International Champions Cup 皇冠体育app in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese soccer fans had better clear their schedules for this summer as a big wave of glittering soccer stars is coming.

The International Champions Cup, a high-profile preseason exhibition tournament featuring star-studded lineups, will come to 皇冠体育app for the first time with three prestigious European clubs, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Internazionale Milano, facing off in a round-robin format of the Cup's inaugural 皇冠体育app leg in July, organizers announced in Beijing on Wednesday.

Initiated by RSE Ventures and Relevent Sports in 2013 in the United States, the tournament organizers saw a great opportunity to reach out to the Chinese market after a master plan was issued earlier this year by President Xi Jinping to boost soccer development from the grassroots to elite professional levels in 皇冠体育app.

"Football is becoming an even more important sport in 皇冠体育app, and of course we are very happy about this. We believe 皇冠体育app has lots of potential of performing at the highest level in the world. Our view is that as the ICC grows in 皇冠体育app, we should engage the grassroots as part of our promotion," Patrick Murphy, a representative of Relevent Sports, said at the launching ceremony on Wednesday.

The 皇冠体育app tournament is headlined by Real Madrid, which won the UEFA Champions League in the 2013-14 season for a record 10th time and boasts an array of stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, the back-to-back FIFA Ballon d'Or winner, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.

Seven-time Champions League winner AC Milan and three-time Champions League winner Internazionale Milano, will bring the anticipated cross-city Milan derby to 皇冠体育app again after the two sides competed head-to-head for the first time in 皇冠体育app at the 2011 Supercoppa in Beijing.

Co-organized by local companies Letv Sports and Guangzhou South Activity Planning Co Ltd, the 皇冠体育app leg will first see AC Milan playing against Internazionale Milano at Shenzhen's Longgang Stadium on July 25, and then the Internazionale Milano squaring off against Real Madrid at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou on July 27 before a final matchup of Real Madrid facing the AC Milan at Shanghai Stadium either on July 29 or 30 (date subject to agreement between two teams).