Arsenal, Newcastle United and AC Milan in talks for pre-season games in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak and AC Milan attacker Rafael Leao could be among the big names to feature at the National Stadium in July, with their respective clubs in talks to play pre-season games in Singapore.

While the contracts have yet to be signed, The Straits Times understands that the two English Premier League teams and the Italian giants have held preliminary discussions with various stakeholders to play pre-season friendlies here. An unnamed fourth team could also be involved.

Sources familiar with the discussions also revealed that Arsenal officials have been in town in recent months to view potential training fields and the National Stadium, which is expected to host the matches.

None of the three clubs are involved in the revamped Club World Cup, which will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13, and they have also been reported to be travelling to Asia for pre-season matches.

On Feb 22, Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post reported that Liverpool, Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur could be part of friendly matches staged at the

new

Kai Tak Sports Park

’s 50,000-seater main stadium.

The report said that Liverpool will play AC Milan on July 26, with Arsenal and Tottenham meeting in their first overseas North London derby on July 31.

Britain’s Daily Mail reported that Newcastle are looking at a pre-season tour in Hong Kong, with a potential match against Tottenham being discussed.

If Newcastle, Arsenal and Milan’s participation in friendly matches here is confirmed, they will be the first involving European clubs since July 2023, when Liverpool, Tottenham, Leicester City and German giants Bayern Munich were part of the “Singapore Festival of Football”.

Bayern

beat Liverpool 4-3 at the National Stadium

in front of a 49,983 crowd then, while Singapore Premier League outfit Lion City Sailors were defeated 5-1 by Spurs in front of 25,095 fans at the same venue.

This will be the Gunners’ first trip to Singapore since the 2018 International Champions Cup tournament, which saw Arsenal go up against Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid and French side Paris Saint-Germain.

Noah Tan, 36, an Arsenal fan since 1997, is looking forward to welcoming the Gunners and meeting players at fringe events.

Tan, who works in the healthcare industry, said: “It’s always exciting to have Arsenal play in Singapore because it’s a chance for fans in this part of the world to watch them up close, which is an experience that not every fan may otherwise get to have.

“There are also usually fan activation events that will be held during these tours, which usually gives us access to the players.”

The Magpies’ trip here would be their first since 1996, when a side featuring Faustino Asprilla, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand thumped an S-League All-Stars team 5-0 in front of 41,000 fans at the old National Stadium.

Terence Ong, a committee member of the Newcastle United Supporters Club Singapore, has watched them at St James’ Park but is “really excited to be able to catch them on my home turf this time”.

The 39-year-old added: “I wasn’t into football yet when they were last here in 1996, so I’m looking forward to making my own Singaporean memories of Newcastle now.”

Newcastle face Liverpool in the League Cup final on March 16, when they will look to end a 70-year domestic Cup drought, and Ong is “keeping his fingers and toes crossed we can pull off this footballing miracle”.

Milan, who have a strong following in this region, especially in Indonesia, have never played in Singapore.

The Rossoneri, who are currently ninth in Serie A, brought club legend Daniele Massaro and the Serie A trophy here in 2022, on the back of winning the 2021-22 title.

Lee Chern San, 47, who has supported Milan since he was 10, said he was very excited by the prospect of watching the team here, even though he has travelled to the San Siro for games.

He said: “Milan have a huge fan base all over the world, the team will surely get a warm welcome, which will be good for the players’ confidence and morale.”