‘AFTER MESSI, IT’S MESSY’ – BUT COULD HONG KONG HOST ANTOINE GRIEZMANN AND DIEGO SIMEONE? ATLETICO MADRID LINKED WITH AUGUST VISIT

• After the Inter Miami controversy, local officials are wary of a repeat, but report suggests Spanish side are lining up a match
• No tours to Hong Kong by European clubs since Manchester City faced Kitchee in 2019

The likes of Antoine Griezmann, Koke and Memphis Depay could star in Hong Kong after reports indicated Atletico Madrid were poised for an August friendly in the city.

Hong Kong fans have been starved of top-class European visitors since Manchester City met Kitchee in 2019.

There has been no confirmation over potential opponents for Atletico, although the Post understands that Hong Kong club Kitchee are involved in arranging the Spanish giants' visit. The date mooted for the fixture is August 7.

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Champions League finalists in 2014 and 2016, the 11-time La Liga winners made a previous trip to Hong Kong when they won the Soccer Sevens tournament in 2015.

Ken Ng Kin, the Kitchee owner, did not respond to a request for comment about Atletico. But last Saturday, asked about marquee friendlies generally, he said: "If the opportunity arises, we will do it."

Ng said, however, that there was a need to tread carefully given February's Lionel Messi debacle, when the Inter Miami star remained on the bench throughout a game in Hong Kong.

"After Messi, it is messy," Ng said. "We have to figure out how it pays, and the impact on the community. The last [such visit] was not a good one.

"If it happens, we have to do a good job. It needs a look at finances, and the government 'M' Mark would help."

Awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, a Hong Kong government advisory body, "M" Mark status delivers funding and resources for organisers.

Kitchee received HK$10 million (US$1.28m) for the Manchester City game five years ago, but lost money nonetheless.

Spanish publication Relevo suggested Atletico would also play at least one match in mainland China.

It said the club had identified Asia as one of their "most important markets". They visited South Korea last preseason, and their spectacular 70,000-capacity Metropolitano Stadium was sponsored by Chinese firm Wanda for five years after it opened in 2017.

Courting Spanish opposition makes sense from a Hong Kong perspective, too. Kitchee hosted Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United between 2012 and 2017. English Premier League clubs have since priced themselves out of the Hong Kong market.

Ng last year said he was "scared" by figures quoted to attract Premier League opposition. One source said it would cost up to HK$39 million (US$5m) to bring over an English top-flight club.

English clubs appear to be nailing their colours to the US mast, with seven already confirming plans for summer trips there. Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, both currently in Melbourne for a friendly, will go to Japan in July.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone, the former Inter Milan and Argentina midfielder, has enjoyed a stellar spell since being appointed in December 2011. He has twice led them to league titles, ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona, twice won the Europa League and has reached two Champions League finals.

Along with Griezmann, the World Cup-winning France forward, Atletico have Jan Oblak, often touted as the world's best goalkeeper, Spain midfielder Koke, former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta, and Memphis Depay, the Dutch forward who has played for Manchester United and Barcelona.

There are doubts over which players would be sent on an Asian tour, with some likely to be granted extended breaks following major international championships in Europe and South America this summer.

Kitchee defender Helio Goncalves recently urged football chiefs to lure high-calibre teams to the city.

"If Hong Kong wants to improve its local and international football, [football bosses] need to do more things," Goncalves said. "It is not good enough to just settle.

"Having top teams here would promote Hong Kong, and it is good experience for our players to face these amazing talents. If you have a good organisation, you can make a lot of money from this."

Atletico Madrid and La Liga's Hong Kong office have been approached for comment. A Hong Kong FA spokesman said the organisation did not know about the proposed fixture.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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2024-05-23T00:17:05Z dg43tfdfdgfd