Real to help China build Guangzhou academy
Reuters - Wednesday 03 August 2011, 05:37
BEIJING - Real Madrid will help China
set up the country's biggest football academy in the southern city
of Guangzhou and send coaches to help train young talent,
according to local media reports.
The management of the visiting La Liga giants had signed a
letter of intent with Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou
Evergrande for an academy that would accommodate more than
10,000 youngsters, state news agency Xinhua said.
"We are working together to establish a football academy in
China, which I think is the first step of our cooperation,"
Xinhua quoted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as saying.
"We are building a close relationship with Guangzhou
Evergrande, we believe we will be closer as time goes by."
The clubs were also exploring the possibility of player
exchanges and cross-brand promotions, the report added.
European clubs have been keen to tap the Chinese market and
have sent a raft of teams for pre-season friendlies in the
world's most populous country.