Dubai: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid will take on Fernando Torres’ AC Milan in the sixth Dubai Football Challenge at the Sevens Stadium on December 30, it was announced at Emirates airline’s headquarters on Monday.
Record ten-time European champions and current Uefa Champions League holders Real Madrid will be making their debut in Dubai along with star players like Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Toni Kroos.
Meanwhile, Milan, who are second only to Los Blancos with seven European titles, will return to the emirate with Torres, Keisuke Honda and Michael Essien to defend their exhibition crown, which they have won for the past three editions.
Emirates, who are shirt sponsors for both sides, announced the fixture in the presence of legends from both clubs — Real’s Emilio Butragueno and Milan’s Franco Baresi — with support from Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
Butrageuno, who scored 123 goals in 341 appearances for Real between 1984 and 1995, winning six La Liga titles and two Uefa Cups, said: “This is the first time Real Madrid will play here in Dubai, so it will be a fantastic opportunity to get in touch with those who love football in this region.
“I’d like to stress we are delighted with the alliance with Emirates. They have brought good luck to the club.
“In the first season as sponsors we were able to win the Uefa Champions League and get more presence in the region, which is very important strategically for the club.
“In Spain we have a one-week break for Christmas, so the players will be able to come here for a few days — we are very excited about that. It’s a fantastic opportunity for players to have a top game of football in Dubai and we will do our best to make our fans happy.”
Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president of commercial operations, said the match was another chance to connect the two clubs with their supporters in the Middle East.
“Emirates is pleased to be working with DTCM to bring two of our major sports sponsorship partners, and two of the biggest football clubs in the world, to our home city for the Dubai Football Challenge,” he said.
“By working with clubs, teams and events around the world we are able to connect fans with their passions, whether football, rugby or horse racing, and we are now able to do this for our customers here in the UAE in December. We are sure fans will be thrilled by the display of footballing skills and the opportunity to see some of the world’s best players here in Dubai.”
Hamad Mohammad Bin Mejren, executive director of the Dubai Convention and Events Bureau at DTCM, said the game would further enhance Dubai’s position as a global sporting hub.
“It is the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to receive 20 million visitors by 2020, to triple the current growth rate,” he said.
“With events like this we are on the right track to achieving this vision. Events of this kind are valuable to the emirate and will attract more sporting events and international visitors to the city.”
Tickets for the match at the 40,000-capacity Sevens Stadium are on sale now at Virgin Megastore and Time Out outlets, starting from Dh200.
